One high terrace built, another rose; he bound and jailed himself, yet still did not know.
Suddenly, sparse rain swept past the hall; fallen leaves filled the steps-whom did they await?
The Suzhou Prefecture Office temporarily served as the Imperial Envoy's Headquarters.
Wei Nisheng sat behind the desk in a scarlet robe, a silver fish hanging at his waist. Steam curled from the teacup beside his hand.
About a quarter of an hour later, footsteps approached slowly outside.
Cui Fu hurried in and bowed to report.
"Young master, Eunuch Li has arrived."
Wei Nisheng set down his teacup and looked up.
A moment later, a figure appeared beyond the threshold.
Li Jin had changed into a blue-gray robe, plain and unadorned from head to toe.
He stopped beside the threshold, his gaze slowly sweeping the hall before finally settling on Wei Nisheng's face.
It lingered for a breath before he stepped over the threshold.
"What an impressive display, Lord Wei," Li Jin began, his voice thin and shrill.
"I came to deliver account books, yet it feels as though I've come to a Hongmen banquet."
With that, he drew a plain white-covered ledger from his sleeve and casually placed it at the corner of the desk.
"The original procurement records of the Imperial Silk Bureau, from Jinghe Year Eleven through Year Fourteen. Not a single volume is missing."
"Copy them or audit them, Lord Wei. Do as you please."
Wei Nisheng took the ledger Cui Fu presented, but did not open it at once.
He merely brushed the cover with his fingertips and weighed it in his hand.
After a moment, he looked up at Li Jin, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.
"I am already deeply honored that you have come in person, Eunuch Li."
"Please, take