Scratch, scratch, scratch...
A brush touched paper, its strokes winding like dragons and snakes as it filled line after line—
"Many misunderstandings about Southern Chen and the lord have spread among the people lately. Someone seems to be spreading rumors behind the scenes, deliberately ruining the lord's reputation. Their intent is damnable."
"Even the people aboard these ships have begun to voice criticism. The ships carry civil and military officials whom the Yuwen forced to accompany them, people of no ordinary experience. Many have countless ties to the former dynasty. They know what happened in the old Chen and how absurd Northern Qi was, yet they still repeat what the people say. They are worried about their reputations and do not want to stir up public anger, but they are also swayed by the prevailing mood."
"At the last few banquets, Yuwen Huaji looked distinctly displeased whenever the lord was mentioned. He seemed unwilling to hear about him. I suspect the rumors have influenced him as well."
At this point, Yu Shinan straightened over his desk and fell into thought. After a long while, he lowered his brush again and wrote—
"Furthermore, the Daoist master suspected of being the lord has kept to himself lately and is hardly seen. Yuwen Huaji and the others once visited him often, but recently no one has gone near him. To be safe, I must watch and wait a little longer."
With the last character written, Yu Shinan set down his brush and narrowed his eyes in thought.
Time passed. He sat quietly until footsteps sounded outside the door, then sighed and murmured, "I wonder who is fanning these flames behind the scenes, and what they hope to achieve. Since ancient times, damming the people's mouths has been harder than damming a river. If