level_act40side_02_beg

It's high autumn.

The courtyard is silent. Its long, thick walls prevent outside noise from coming in. It's empty, save for an old persimmon tree leaning against the wall in the shade, with its old crown extending over the top of the wall.

No one knows what this old tree has witnessed over the years. We do know that, since its planting, it has turned red, and green, and red again, as the seasons have flown by.

Each year, bright red, fresh persimmons grow from its branches, and each year, these beautiful fruits wipe away old memories of previous harvests.

The old man sits under the tree, sleeping in the shade.

...Grandfather.

Grandfather?

Huh.... wha?

Ciqiu? You're back?

Yes. I got delayed a bit on the way back, but thankfully, I made it in time for the Mid-Autumn festival.

I've been thinking a lot these past few days. I've been watching the persimmons grow redder and redder. I was afraid that if you didn't come back soon, we wouldn't be able to eat them together this year.

I'm not sure how many more harvests I will live to see. If you had come back any later, you may not have even seen me here...

Grandfather...

Ning Ciqiu decides not to crack any jokes, as she usually would have done. She looks at the old man closely. He seems to have a few new wrinkles on his forehead this time.

The autumn wind blows suddenly, ruffling the old man's hair.

We completed our trial of Dahuang's first mobile plate last month. I've finished up my work at the Ministry of Rites for now, so they allowed me two weeks' vacation.

You've worked really hard.

I heard about the goings-on in Dahuang as soon as they happened. I've detailed all my criticisms in my letters.

I know you were involved in the disaster relief effort as well, but every Yanese mandarin is duty-bound to protect the people. As an Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites, you must take responsibility for the poor management here.

Deducting half a year's pay is letting you off easy. You have nothing to complain about.

Of course I shall not complain, and I take my errors to heart.

Ciqiu, you must remember: do not focus on what you've already done; focus on what you still haven't done yet.

As a magistrate, you must carry out the orders of your superiors, while winning over and maintaining the trust of those below you, the citizens.

In your position, everything you do is only what was expected of you in the first place. However, should you fail in even the slightest of your responsibilities, it would be an unforgivable transgression.

If you do not understand this, you are not fit to wear your magisterial robes.

'Devote all your energy to the cause, as that is all you have to give.' I still remember the words you taught me so many moons ago.

I shall take this mistake to heart, but I shan't despair. Quitting now would really be shirking my responsibilities.

Yes.

Okay. I've said enough on this for now. I am not in your position, nor do I work in the Ministry of Rites. Therefore, I have no right to interfere.

Now, I am more worried about your injury. Are you well?

Do not worry, Grandfather. I recovered quite some time ago.

Broken bones take at least three months to heal, so please take caution. In a few days, after you get settled, make the time to go see a doctor. An old friend of mine gave me medicine patches. I'll give you some to take back home with you.

Very well, Grandfather.

You kids are always making me worry.

I'm just about to move back to my old hometown. My son and daughter never come to see me, and your sister is never home. Everyone's forgotten me.

What you say about my sister sounds true, but as far as you being forgotten... forgive me, but these past few days you've closed your door to all visitors.

Ugh. This again? Kids these days, you don't have your priorities straight, do you?

I haven't had a single moment of peace in this courtyard since the beginning of last month.

The youth today are clever, dare not knock on my door to offer me wine or tea. Instead, they've started watering my flowers. My poor hydrangeas. I spent so long growing them, and these kids have already drowned three pots this year!

Gah...

You've had so many visitors lately. I'd wager the Minister came and showed you the draft guest list of the Feast, didn't he?

It's rare to see the True Lung even once a year. I'm sure many would treasure the chance to learn the latest court gossip.

I have no reason to meet the young lad. He's the Minister, after all. What does he need my input for?

Come now, Grandfather. You served for decades in the Ministry of Rites. Your achievements were many, and your legacy is secure.

That's all in the past. If we keep focusing on the past, how will we deal with the present?

Mr. Ning, you have a guest.

I told you, no visitors. Who is it, anyways?

He says he is the Advisor of Yumen.

Hmm...?

The Advisor of Yumen? Never heard of him...

I don't care who he is. I said no visitors, and I meant it.

Grandfather, wait a moment. Might the advisor be here to see me?

Good sir, our master is not accepting visitors right now. Please come back another time.

Please tell Ning, err, your master, that an old friend is here.

Sir, no offense... but judging by your age, are you sure you're an 'old friend' of the master's?

It's true. I dare not make up stories.

Sir, please, be on your way. The master is not accepting any guests right now. If you really are an 'old friend', then I'm sure you wouldn't want to cause trouble, would you?

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?

But I heard that a thief tampered with one of your paintings recently.

They 'sealed the lips' of the painting with honey. It's an old folk custom to celebrate the New Year. They do this in hopes that the Stove God 'will only say good things and not bad things'. Whoever the thief was, they had some other motive in mind besides theft.

Why did you not report this vandalism?

If I never reported it, then how do you know about it?

One of my colleagues is handling this case. I saw the case file. But the one who first reported it... I don't believe was anyone from your estate...

Well, I'm glad there's at least someone out there who cares about an old man like me.

I would not have expected you to believe in those folk tales, Deputy Minister Lin.

Haha. I am a mere citizen. You, on the other hand, are a mandarin, and your time is valuable. You came here today to ask me something. Just go ahead and ask me directly, please.

I came here to ask you about someone, not something.

Do you remember an individual named Gu Quan?

Grkh...

Ten years ago, Gu Quan accompanied some Yanese dignitaries on an official visit to Victoria. They encountered a Catastrophe, a blizzard, along the way, and poor Gu drowned in a river.

Have you any memory of that, Mr. Ning?

Yes. How could I forget?

I believe it was December. It definitely happened in the winter. By the time the news reached Baizao, it was almost the new year.

I remember the Messenger told us that, after the storm came in, the envoys got trapped on the mountain. Gu Quan stayed at the back of the line, helping shepherd everyone else across the river. In the end, he's the one who ended up falling in.

Sigh. The river must have been freezing cold!

It looks like that incident made quite an impact on you.

Gu Quan was a very good worker. He served the Ministry very well. He was very well-read and had excellent calligraphy.

It's a pity he had no family. The only remnant of him is a cenotaph in Cemetery of the Virtuous. Every year, the Ministry of Rites sends someone to tend it and pay their respects...

No family?

Look at me, blathering on again. Well, anyway, why do you mention Gu Quan?

A Yanese diplomat dying in a foreign country... that is a major international incident. According to the Laws of Yan, both Yan and the other country must send experts to conduct a joint investigation and compile a final report.

However, after Gu Quan's death, the Ministry of Rites did no such thing. Even more startling is that the Judicial Review Office's records of the case are remarkably sparse.

I'm confused. This is clearly a question for the Judicial Review Office. Why are you asking me? I was in the Ministry of Rites.

Well then, let me remind you.

Two months before the team left on their mission, Gu Quan was just an ordinary ninth-rank mandarin. How did he suddenly get promoted to envoy, much less be sent on a mission to Victoria?

Well, you are the one who signed Gu Quan's transfer order. At the time, you were the Minister of Rites.

Hahaha. Now I understand.

You're saying that I deliberately arranged for Gu Quan to go on a diplomatic mission to Victoria, and then 'disposed' of him.

No. That's not what I'm saying.

There is something strange going on here. I intend to solve these cases one-by-one, and I humbly ask for your guidance, Mr. Ning.

Since you're so curious about all this, why not ask me a few more pointed questions?

Do you think it's odd that I, as a former Minister of Rites, would trouble myself over a mere ninth-rank ceremonial officer? Are you implying, perhaps, that he discovered some unspeakable secret about me?

So you're just here to ask me about a ten year old case?

Hahaha... no matter, no matter. Ask whatever you wish.

Just remember, if you keep asking the same questions, you will keep getting the same answers.

What kind of answers do you want?

Truthful ones.

Hahaha. I already have one foot in the grave. What reason do I have to deceive you?

Then again, if you suspect me of committing so many crimes, then you surely don't view my testimony as credible...

I just want you to tell me why Gu Quan was suddenly transferred. Once you tell me that, we'll be able to figure out the rest of it.

Okay, okay. You came all this way to see me, so I think I should tell you what you want to know.

Gu Quan was indeed transferred for a reason: because he specifically requested it.

He wanted the transfer?

Yes, he said that he was ill and was afraid he didn't have much time left, so he wanted to return to his hometown in Victoria to live out the rest of his days. So, I agreed to let him join the delegation to Victoria.

What illness did he have?

I'm not clear on the details either. I only vaguely remember that Gu Quan did seem to be in poor spirits around that time.

But, as such a low-level mandarin, Gu Quan would not have had many opportunities to even meet you. How did he make such a request?

To be honest, it's a bit embarrassing... but there was a hint of selfishness on my part as well.

Gu Quan had magnificent penmanship, so I sometimes had him write letters for me. I also asked him to serve as my children's calligraphy tutor.

He had done so much for me, I felt I owed him a favor. Besides, I did not feel his request stemmed from greed.

That's all there is to say about Gu Quan's transfer. Do you have any other questions for me?

Since I've heard it directly from you, I'll take what you're saying at face value.

However, I disagree with one thing you said.

What?

Anyone who wants to know the truth, be they a mandarin or an ordinary citizen, does not need a special reason for doing so.

Please know, Mr. Ning, that I am indeed only after the truth. I have no other motives.

Now I shall take my leave, sir.

Good day, madam.

Say. Where is Liang Xun?

It's rather late, Grandfather. I saw the young man out many hours ago.

My word. You invited him in to have dinner, and then you had him wait there forever. Tis a poor way to treat a guest.

Yes. Where are my manners? Tell him I apologize, and please let him know that he's welcome to come back any time. Next time, I will be a proper host. I owe him that much.

Liang is a reasonable man. I am sure he'll understand.

By the way, his name is Liang Xun, right? Which 'Xun' is that? How do you write it?

It's that Xun with three dots on the left.

Uh, that one in 'Xun mei qie yi'... A spray of spring, gifted to you. Such a beautiful name; I'm rather fond of it.

I've heard that people with the three dots in their name characters are as clever and swift as water.

Funny. The others all say he's as dull as a board.

The old man walks to the table, picks up a pen, and adds another name to the invite list.

Hmm... maybe he is rather dull...

He came all this way to see his 'sweetheart', but look at the gifts he brought: Yumen's Tea, some strange liquor called 'Liedaozi'. These seem more like gifts meant for me.

Lin Qingyan, wait.

Who's there?

Lin Qingyan gets a strange feeling she's rarely felt before.

A woman with a sword advances to within a <i>zhang</i> of Lin Qingyan, yet she doesn't even notice her...

Until she is standing right in front of her.

Your uniform...

You... you're... an Imperial Guard?