Meaty Platter

It is as you say...

But my deeds were loyal and just. This, I know. My conscience is clear.

Those who peer into finponds to find omens will see omens... So, what comes next in your plans?

The order to transfer has already been issued. I will be joining the diplomatic mission to Victoria in three days.

After all that happened, I can no longer stay in Baizao. These arrangements are the fruit of Minister Ning's efforts.

Victoria? How are you supposed to get to Victoria with a body like yours?

To be favored with a pardon is all I need ask for.

Besides, I can consider going to Victoria returning home...

Can you really? I remember you saying your wife and child already passed away, no?

Yes... It has been many years since that day.

...Even if I did believe you, do you think other people will?

...

If you can remember things that happened back then, so can others.

Do you know how many eyes will be watching you when you return?

What am I to do...? Please, speak plainly.

Lend me your life, my friend.

That unvarnished truth you crave? I will give it to you.

...

You have arrived early, Mr. Liang.

Miss Ning...?

Hmm? You seem surprised. Do you not wish to see me?

Hardly.

I simply had not heard you would also be attending the Feast of a Hundred Delicacies, Miss Ning.

Minister Ning is ill, so for this year's Feast, the Ministry of Rites had no choice but to send me to attend in his stead.

It was a rather last-minute decision, so I did not have the time to tell you, my Lord.

I suppose that leaves us equals in silence, since it seems you never planned to tell me you were attending either.

I am merely here as part of my work. I did not wish to bother you, Miss Ning.

Hmm...

I am suddenly reminded of how, aside from Shangshu, we have not met for the better part of a year. Several of my letters to you during that time received no answer.

It can be hard to put words to paper, and I find myself often mired in official business. I have been negligent in maintaining my side of the conversation.

I cannot deny your blame, Miss Ning.

Where have I mentioned blaming you, my Lord?

During your time as magistrate, even the smallest needs of your hometown never left your thoughts. Now with expanded duties? The concerns have only increased.

But for some reason, after only six short months, I feel as though we have become estranged.

As if there are some things... we cannot say to the other.

...

Putting that aside for the moment, this is the first time you are attending the Feast, yes?

Yes. My early years were spent in Shangshu, so I had little opportunity to take part in government events such as this.

Major topics are often deliberated upon during these Feasts.

The question this year is, what decision will His Majesty make in regards to this war?

I dare not make any sort of wild conjecture on His Majesty's thoughts.

But you are a clever man, Mr. Liang. Your conjectures are always correct.

...

You did in fact have something on your mind the other day, and you wanted to discuss it with Grandfather, did you not?

I dare not lie to you, Miss Ning.

Phrase it how you will. I am always happy to hear that you wish to see me.

But I am afraid that for you, I have never been someone to be trusted, or to entrust things with.

I believe there may have been a misunderstanding, Miss Ning...

I do not mean to blame you.

Who among us did not detest the murky secrets of the bureaucracy when these red robes were first draped over us? But now, we must navigate all this wheeling and dealing, like it or not.

I may not be close to the center of the court, but there is one thing even I know.

It is difficult to speak the truth, and even more difficult to make others believe you are speaking the truth.

Once you enter the palace walls, the word 'sincerity' means less than nothing.

...

But all I have ever shown you is sincerity, Miss Ning.

...

No matter what may come, I have always hoped you would remember—

We should take our seats now, Mr. Liang. Let us head inside.

Come on, step on it! Check over your ingredients one last time when you're done! The guests are already seated! We need to start serving as soon as the order comes in!

Inspect ALL your ingredients! Check on the stews and soups while you're at it!

The Bliss Soup on stove number ninety... I don't know how, but the color seems to be a bit off.

What?! How many times did I say to cut the ingredients into finger-width cubes! No more, no less! And it's supposed to be on the fire for twenty hours! No breaks! Someone must have screwed something up!

*sigh*...! Alright, move aside, I'll come have a look!

(Quietly) Hey... Over here!

Why're you still wearing those clothes?! Scared people won't notice you or something?

Formal dress for formal occasions. I had kept these clothes at home just in case.

But this is the kitchen! Don't you have anything more... suitable to put on?

No.

Is disguising yourself not something natural for Judicial Officers?

What nonsense are you talking about? Deputy Minister at the Judicial Review Office is not some undercover ghost—

Though I have found myself sneaking around a lot lately for some reason...

Alright, enough muttering, change into these clothes. You follow the army of waiters into the banquet area as they're serving up the dishes, then change back into your fancy robe when you can.

Fine...

Hah... This kind of infiltration really does make me a little nervous...

You said you were going to stand up to see justice restored, so if you make the True Lung mad, is he just going to arrest you right away, or is he going to...

There is a tradition of remonstration during the Feast of a Hundred Delicacies. Besides, we're just going to request a reopening of an old case due to inconclusive evidence. Why would the True Lung be mad at me?

Although there is one thing...

Which is?

Have you ever thought about... What if...

What if the truth we manage to dig up on this case turned out to be the complete opposite of what we thought...

What if... you found out everything around you was one big lie...

What are you talking about?

Didn't we do all this to get to the truth in the first place? If it's a lie, we'll smash it to pieces! Why the hesitation?!

We've come this far already. What choice do we even have?

Okay.

Blaze... I think... Your father, he... He was likely a good man.

Huh? Why this all of a sudden?

...

Promise me this. If something unexpected happens, you must take care of yourself fir—

Shh! Someone's coming, hide! Under the stove!

Is everything ready?

R—Ready, chef.

These longevity noodles you are in charge of may be simple, but they are still vital for the feast. Make no mistakes while preparing them.

U—Understood.

You...

Although I do not know why your shifu did not wish to come to the Feast, I believe he had his reasons to choose you.

Once the Feast is over, I will give you the opportunity to take on my mantle.

Eh? Me?

Not happy to hear that?

Hahaha... There's a lot of chefs who would pinch themselves awake if they were told they were going to be your apprentice.

But I don't understand. Why're you entrusting all the skills you've learned your entire life to only one person?

Nonsense... Do you know just how many examinations a Ding Feng Lou head chef puts their prospective students through before they choose an apprentice?

Not to mention the fact that my own shifu was the one who penned the 'Book of Foods' with recipes from all four major cuisines and has served us well for decades worth of Feasts.

Out of the hundreds of chefs in this Ding Feng Lou kitchen who have honed their craft for many years, Shifu chose me to take the reins. Just me.

Generations of exquisite artisanship in these hands, you'd let anybody smudge it?

But, no matter how exquisite the artisanship is, you're making the dish for people to eat...

...Hmmm?

Haha... What I mean is, is teaching a single apprentice who's as good as you really more important than teaching a bunch of chefs who can do a decent job...?

The more you teach, the more can cook, which means even more of Yan can enjoy tastier food, or something...

...

...That's enough of your disrespectful rubbish!

Focus on your noodles.

...

Have the preparations been made?

Yumen has entered the highest state of alert, and the city defenses are all in position. The citizens have been evacuated, leaving twenty thousand soldiers and three thousand Tianshis able to take to the field at any time.

They await your orders.

Okay.

Let us see if the moons wax or wane in our favor tonight.

General, the Grand Commandant's Messenger has arrived.

At this hour?

Where is the message, then?

He didn't have one. All he had to deliver was... a box of mooncakes.

He said the Grand Commandant had only one thing to say to you, General.

'Eat them while they're hot. Don't let them get cold.'

...

...

You received my notice, Lord Zuo.

It has been a while... Are you faring well?

You...

No need to be so tense. This pawnshop has long since closed its doors. No-one will be bothering us.

Why meet me alone?

Shouldn't I be asking you that, Lord Zuo?

What do you mean?

I opened this pawnshop on a whim during my stay in Baizao, and for a time, business was booming.

Every day would see customers bring in all sorts of curios, scrolls, precious baubles and odd gemstones... In the end, many of them were taken by my wandering younger brother, and placed within his garden.

The most curious thing was that all the customers who came by this shop had one thing in common: they were looking for me.

You think far too highly of yourself.

Well, since you have come to see me, does that not mean you have something to discuss, Lord Zuo? Perhaps I could answer one or two questions plaguing you?

All I want to know is... Why have you come to Baizao?

If that convict has decided now is the time to declare war on Yan, all that awaits him is death and destruction... But I'm sure he knows that already.

Indeed. My elder brother is skilled at the art of the gridded board and naught else, though it is a formidable and well-honed skill at that.

Do you still remember the Shanhaizhong who appeared in Yumen, Lord Zuo?

During the Sui Regulator's analysis of the incident, we noticed traces of another Feranmut proxy's actions.

I'm sure you remember, Lord Zuo, that during that hunt a thousand years ago, the Feranmut of Yan were either put to the sword, or banished.

Has the Sui Regulator ever wondered, considering my brother was able to find one of them...

Could he, perhaps, have found more than just one?

—!

During the many years since the incident, the Sui Regulator have watched closely his every movement within Yan's borders. But have they never considered the possibility that one of his weiqi stones might leave the country?

Don't underestimate our intelligence network. The Sui Regulator have never stopped keeping an eye on the Feranmut outside. If they make any sudden movements, our Feranmutologists will surely sense something.

I'm sure they did. They should be on their way back to Yan right about now.

Please treat this information as my humble gift to you, Lord Zuo. How you use it is for you to decide.

Why are you telling me this? You're one of the convict's conspirators, so why tell us his plans?

In truth... Though I am indeed in collaboration with my brother, our hearts are not as one. We have our differences.

He insists on seeing a victor decided. I, on the other hand, prefer doing my business in a more... amicable fashion.

As for why I chose you, Lord Zuo, I feel like we are... kindred spirits.

What?

I profess I have some skill in reading people. My intuition tells me we will have the opportunity to do business once again in the future.

It is possible that the fate of us siblings will lie in your hands, Lord Zuo.

To be able to chat with you on this festive day, even but for a moment, is destiny at work... I hope that in the future, you can see me as a 'man' you can discuss things with.

Aiyo!

What's wrong?!

Sorry! M—My hand just cramped! Couldn't hold it steady!

You seriously... Bah!

Sorry! I'll go back to the kitchen and get a new one!

Do it quick! The mandarins are all seated already. Once the True Lung arrives, the banquet will start!

...

Do you need help, madam?

?!

Madam?

*cough*... I am here for the Feast of a Hundred Delicacies.

All the mandarins should have already been seated. May I ask why...

Forgive me, I was delayed on the road here. I will head in right away.

Please wait a moment.

Madam, please show your invitation to the Feast.

Why? Is me standing here not invitation enough?

A routine inspection. I beg your pardon, madam.

...

My Lady! You dropped something of yours!

You...?

You left in such a rush! How could you not have noticed you dropped something so important? Good thing I spotted it.

Ah, Madam Tang of the Ministry of Revenue. Please forgive my earlier impertinence.

There are no further issues here, but the Feast is about to begin. Please take your seat as quickly as you can.

That invitation is a forgery. It will only work the one time. Do take care when you're inside.

I know you... You're one of the ladies at the Ning Manor.

I'm also a friend of Blaze.

I spotted her name on the chef roster and guessed at your plan.

The rest, you will simply have to beg forgiveness from the True Lung after meeting him.

But don't you know... If this case is reopened, you'll be ruined.

But the one most heavily implicated by this case would be Blaze, no?

Didn't you already agree to help her find the truth? What else is there to worry about?

Besides... If you really do manage to pull back the curtain on all this, well, that's what I was after in the first place.

Thank you...

...

Yu Cheng... What exactly did you see...?

How strange. The Feast has already started, so why has His Imperial Majesty not yet arrived?

No need to panic. His Imperial Majesty is busy. Something urgent might have come up. All we can do is wait.

I heard he's been ill for a while now. What if it is something to do with that?

Shh! Stop blabbering.

Preposterous! Simply preposterous!

Don't you know where we are!? What right have you to obstruct a court mandarin?

What's all this noise about?

This man says he's Assistant Minister Tang Jian of the Ministry of Revenue, but we've already checked, and every seat under the Ministry of Revenue is already accounted for...

I AM TANG JIAN! None of this 'he says' rubbish! Look, do you see this seal in my hand? Whose name is on it?!

...Hmmm?

All rise—

I have something to report, Your Majesty!

What the... What's going on?