Braised Wax Gourd Cube

What about you, Grandfather?

Heheh, for days I was all raring to go home. Now that we're about to, I look around at our little garden and I think 'oh, if only I could stay'.

Do you remember? It was here in this pavilion we laid out some sand, and grabbed a stick, and I taught you how to write one stroke at a time.

You said by next year, you'd be writing all the estate couplets for us. Then you spent two months with me learning, and after that you had to give up.

But by next year, you really did write me a couplet.

'Bountiful blooms and a full moon; may joy last forever.'

I'm surprised you still remember, Grandfather.

How could I forget... Ah, another year, another Mid-Autumn. How quickly the days pass.

The two of us haven't chewed the fat like this in the longest, have we? Grandfather to granddaughter.

Mm. I've been out constantly, and you're always occupied with guests. We hardly have the chance to meet.

The whole family's leaving the capital, after all. Quite the headache.

But things will settle down once we're back in Langyi, and we'll have plenty of time to chat along the way.

Are you almost done writing that book of yours?

...

Grandfather, I don't... think I can go back to Langyi with you.

When did you make up your mind?

You're returning home, Grandfather, like a leaf returns to its root. It's human nature, the whole family sympathizes. But the journey is meandering enough to make us worried.

The Nings are bursting with talent. Everyone's work forms a cornerstone of Yan. Compared to them, I really am the lone choice to accompany you back.

But frankly, I was always a distant orphan from Langyi anyway. It was because you took such pity on me that I could spend these decades at the Ning manor.

If I go now to Langyi, I go back to where my long-gone parents once lived.

That was your thinking... when you asked to accompany me home?

Grandfather... that was my thinking.

It all seemed to fall into place. I almost managed to convince myself.

But I've spent the last few days on a farewell tour of sorts around Baizao's streets, so I can finish up the Baizao Cuisine & Food Culture somehow.

And I realized, all my memories are of this city.

I can clearly recall what year we planted that persimmon tree in the courtyard, and when its fruits make for the best wine.

And every restaurant of every road and alley, and what their chefs are like, and how many different ways you can cook each dish.

All of a sudden, it hit me that... this very city, moreso than the Ning manor, feels like my home.

*sigh*...

...That's on me. That's on me for not asking you how you feel. I've been nothing but me this whole time.

Grandfather, you're my one and only family. You've always been since I was little.

I really did want to go back home with you at first, but the reason I'm set on staying in Baizao now... is you as well, Grandfather.

Is it?

Mm-hm.

When I first joined the Imperial Historical Cabinet to compile annals, there was one thing I could never puzzle out.

At some specific point in Yan's millennia of history, out of nowhere, the written word proliferated and education became for all. Even the earliest of the tablets we were studying only went back to that period.

So I thought, in that period, someone must have pushed for those changes. But I flipped through practically all the material we had, and I couldn't find a single clue.

I had this strange feeling that, there in Yan's history, one person seemed to be missing.

...

Then one day, I met someone strange at a Go club, who told me the story of 'that person'.

I thought he was just a yarn-spinning storyteller at first, but as I further researched, I gradually found all his stories to be corroborated.

According to him, 'she' was a gentle person who gave her heart and soul, her blood and sweat to the wellbeing of the people. And she gave too much... But how could someone as good as her fail to leave her name in our annals?

That was when I realized that a history book isn't a container, but a sieve. The stories that stay behind are few and far between.

Grandfather... I want to record your story. But then I look back, and it dawns on me that for all the years I've spent with you, I can't even write with any clarity about...

About what—kind of person you are.

Who goes there!

Who goes where?

Tch... Thought I heard something.

It's all the bizarre cases these days. Makes me feel like someone's going to barge in any moment and wreak havoc.

This is the Judicial Review Office. What kind of miscreant would break in here?

Quit jumping at ghosts. Guard duty's almost over, and then we can clock out and head home.

Just wait a sec and then enter through the front... say you're here to report a case, then find a floor map on the way to the waiting room...

The window in the waiting room yesterday faces north, the Judicial entrance faces south, behind is a high perimeter wall.

Lin Qingyan's office is sec—third floor... get out the window, climb up the sprinkler pipes, and no one should notice me.

Ta ma de! Once I find her I'm gonna sock her in the...!

Who's there?!

Lin Qingyan?!

Blaze?!

What are you here for?!

What am I here for? I'm here to get YOU back!

Where'd your old court uniform go?

I resigned.

Then went back to the restaurant, couldn't find you, and worried you might be up to something stupid, so thank you for confirming that fear.

Now let's find somewhere else to talk!

You're telling me that all those years, Gu Quan was staying at the Ning manor?

But how did you find out...

Never you mind that. Now, can you tell me exactly what that means?

Minister Ning's involvement in the Gu Quan case runs deeper than I ever thought. He was clearly hiding something in his previous testimony.

I did suspect he was the perpetrator, but going by Mo Bufu's testimony, when Gu Quan was sent to death row in the fallout of the old case, Ning Shu was the one who got him out. Knowing that...

He wouldn't have a motive to try and get him killed again.

And the most key thing... I had no idea before that Yu Cheng had contact with Gu Quan so early on.

Whatever's connecting this string of events, it's likely more complicated than anything I've imagined.

See, I'm still curious. All those years ago, my dad came to Baizao on his own—and what the hell for?

Yes, that's the key question...

(Blaze has no clue about the two lives Gu Quan lived... If he was a fall guy in that incident, then why would he return to Baizao a dozen years after the fact and plant himself in the middle of the maelstrom?)

(Ning Shu's position, Yu Cheng's scheme... We still can't draw an outline around any of these questions.)

(How should I let Blaze know...)

Hey, you know I can tell that look on your face?

C'mon. What's our next move, exactly?

Blaze, about yesterday...

Forget about it. I know you 'it's-my-duty' types get the urge to do a little weird stuff now and then. Not my circus, I'm not arguing.

Just don't ever tell me any stupid crap like 'I'm sending you back for your safety' again, because—

...

You're still trying to ditch me!?!

Blaze, trust me, I will see this case through to the end... but you can't stick around in Baizao any longer than this.

Do as I said. Leave within two days, head to the Lungmen office first. But you can't stay there for too long either, so once you're reorganized, get back on the road straight away and leave Yan as soon as—

Over my dead body.

You don't trust me to keep investigating?

I mean, I do, but you're out of a rank, you're out of a job, how are you gonna investigate?

I'll think of something.

If Yu Cheng can resign and investigate in secret, then so can—

I have an idea.

Let's do this thing a little more thoroughly.

What's your plan?

Not like we're gonna get anywhere just running around town.

We'll head to the Feast of a Hundred Delicacies, go straight to the True Lung, and ask him to explain all this.

Your Imperial Majesty, the Ministry of Rites has drafted the official list of attendees for the Feast of a Hundred Delicacies.

To mark the occasion, Victoria, Leithanien, Laterano and other such nations have sent us their envoys with letters of celebration.

For Your Imperial Majesty's perusal.

*cough* *cough*... *cough* *hack*...

Your Imperial Majesty... the Ministry of War and Sui Regulator have finished drawing up joint battleplans.

Also for Your Imperial Majesty's... *cough* *cough*... perusal.

The Ministry of Revenue was not consulted on this battle's drain on labor and fiscal resources, nor on the postwar reparations. How were these battleplans drafted?

I know you and the Ministry of Revenue are both very busy. The Ministry of War simply went to some small pains working out the manpower, the funding, the ration, and even the Ministry of Works's postwar repair expenses.

And now you can read together with His Majesty, since we're having an audience and all.

Logistics are calculable, but how many of Yan's people will bleed in this war? Is that a bill you can work out so easily?

So the Grand Tutor means to say, if you can't work it out, then no need to try?

...

...

It's autumn... How are the harvests in the north?

Dahuang has resumed production ASAP following the disaster. Our harvest this year is more or less on par with previous years.

In that case... what about next year?

Your Imperial Majesty...

A life measured in years, yet the stress feels ancient. We're running out of time.

This involves the livelihoods of all Yan's people. I ask that Your Imperial Majesty reconsider.

Grand Tutor, the Ministries have long discussed everything worth discussing. It's about time we made up our minds.

His Majesty's decree is made. We simply await his proclamation at the Feast of a Hundred Delicacies.

...

It's growing late. It looks to rain.

...The two of you can leave.

May we be excused.

Aiyo, aiyo... Trust this rain to come from nowhere, I'm soaked...

Autumn drizzles and cold snaps... We'll be out of fresh vegetables in a few days at this rate. I didn't even get to rustle up this year's winter clothes...

Chef, I think we're forced to start our winter pickles now. Get your mess of stuff out of the storehouse as soon as—

Chef...?

Blaze? Xingzhu? Where'd everybody go...?

...