The fifth day of the fourth month, afternoon.
In the small courtyard of the Wei Residence, the jujube tree wore fresh green.
Wei Nisheng returned home from his duties. He had barely entered the courtyard when he found Cui Fu waiting with a stack of calling cards in his arms.
White paper traced with gold, red stationery sealed in vermilion, thick and thin all mingled together-the stack filled his arms, with no fewer than twenty or thirty invitations.
"Young master!" Cui Fu hurried forward.
"Not long after you left for court this morning, calling cards started arriving one after another!
"From all the offices of the Six Ministries, Vice Directors, Directors...
"They've all sent invitations, saying they'd like to invite you to their residences for a talk."
At Cui Fu's words, Wei Nisheng stopped. His gaze fell on the invitations, and he took a few to leaf through.
Hah. Twenty invitations meant twenty hands...
All reaching to probe the scale beneath his throat.
Leave not a single sheet, reveal not a single scale.
Wei Nisheng tossed the calling cards back to Cui Fu and continued walking, uttering only three words.
"Decline them all."
"Young master?" Cui Fu stared.
"All of them? Some have gold paper on them. Some even have gold leaves tucked inside..."
"Take what can be taken, melt what can be melted!" Wei Nisheng cut him off.
"But we take only the gold, not the visitors!
"Not one of today's invitations needs an answer.
"Tomorrow and the day after, keep accepting them.
"If anyone comes asking, just say that your young master is busy with official duties and has no time for banquets!"
With that settled, Wei Nisheng crossed the courtyard and pushed open the study door.
He walked to the desk without lighting a lamp