April twentieth, afternoon.
Outside the East Flower Gate, sophora blossoms were in full bloom before the Wei Residence.
The gatekeeper was sweeping fallen petals with his head lowered when he heard hoofbeats approaching from afar. Looking up, he saw only a blue-gray horse ambling past.
The Main Hall in the eastern courtyard of the Wei Residence.
In a rare departure from habit, Wei Mingde had put on a newly tailored Zhiduō Robe that day, with the Silver Belt that had been brand-new all those years ago, and was now half-worn, fastened around his waist.
His hair was combed without a strand out of place, and even the little mustache above his lip had been trimmed with particular care.
Ever since Wei Mingde had been impeached by the censors and remonstrators the previous year, though Qin Yan's forceful memorial in his defense had spared him punishment, the Son of Heaven's decree of stern rebuke had unfortunately come down.
Like a long nail driven into wood, it had pinned him forever to his post as Department Secretary in the Ministry of Works, cutting off every avenue of promotion or transfer.
His idle post was both the dignity the court afforded him out of regard for his father Wei Zheng's past service and the final destination it had granted him.
It bore out that saying perfectly: "By this you began; by this you must end."
Wei Mingde had entered official service under his father's protection, and under his father's protection he had escaped punishment.
Wei Zheng had been his making; Wei Zheng had been his undoing.
Wei Zheng had been his beginning; Wei Zheng had been his end.
For all the twists and turns of his life, he had never truly escaped living in the shadow of his father's and eldest brother's