The banquet at the Feng Residence ended at the hour of the pig.
Fu Niang stood beneath the veranda, blushing as she said goodbye to Wei Nisheng, then followed the old serving woman back to the rear courtyard.
Wei Nisheng was about to take his leave when the steward approached and bowed.
"Young Master Wei, the master is waiting for you in his study."
"I'll go there now."
The night breeze blew from the far end of the covered walkway, gently swaying the lanterns beneath the eaves.
Feng Yan sat behind his desk, a fresh cup of tea before him.
He held a memorial in his hand. It had been carefully preserved, with only a single line of inscription on its cover.
Wei Nisheng entered and sat down.
Feng Yan laid the memorial on the desk and pushed it toward him.
Wei Nisheng lowered his gaze. The inscription's strokes were vigorous, its structure and substance perfectly balanced.
It was not Feng Yan's handwriting.
"Teacher, this is..."
"A memorial your grandfather submitted," Feng Yan said evenly.
"Back in the Emperor Shizong Era, there was a saying: 'Feng Half the Court, Wei One Corner.'
"That was when your grandfather and I first acquired those names.
"But they were not words of praise. They were rumors spread by our enemies at Court.
"They meant that your grandfather and I-one occupied half the Court, while the other propped up one corner of the realm."
Wei Nisheng said nothing.
He could tell that Feng Yan was not boasting. He was speaking of something weighty.
Decades had passed, yet even bringing it up still made a man uneasy in his seat.
"When your grandfather and I received those flattering names, neither of us was happy. We were both frightened."
"And this was the memorial your grandfather