Rain poured down in torrents.
The night wind shifted sharply.
Leaves whirled through the air inside the Zhao residence with its four successive courtyards.
After meeting Jia Xingzhi, Zhao Wenjing had made a detour back to the Yamen, sorted through all his earlier arrangements again, and only then returned to his residence.
Since he had only recently been promoted to a post in Shuzhou, he had not brought his entire family over, taking only a few attendants and servants with him.
As a result, the vast residence was often empty.
Zhao Wenjing cared little for such trappings. After returning home and eating a simple dinner, he went to his study and read through some official bulletins he had brought back from the Yamen.
One after another.
Most came from Capital Prefecture and concerned changes in the Imperial Court's policies, such as taxes, corvée labor, and whether disasters had struck various regions.
The Imperial Court issued these bulletins precisely so local officials could stay abreast of changes across the Nine Provinces and Three Prefectures and use them as references.
After finishing the bulletins, Zhao Wenjing reflected on what he had seen and heard that day, then spread out a blank sheet of paper and began writing.
"Three matters arose at the Yamen today. First, the affair involving Marquis Dingyuan, Xiao Fengchun, had far-reaching repercussions, drawing several hundred Jianghu guests. Yet under Dragon Tiger's 'threat,' fewer than one in ten now remain.
"Second, Commander-in-Chief Lord Li visited the Surveillance Commissioner's Office today and spoke privately with Lord Tang. The contents remain unknown, but probably concerned Shuzhou's precautions against the Barbarian Tribe and Poshushuo Kingdom."
"Third, I met the Cui Family's party at Yunqing Tower and learned that Miss Cui wished to erect a monument to Shuzhou's predecessors-"
Zhao Wenjing sat upright at