Outside the western side courtyard of the Ministry of Revenue offices lay a long, narrow passage.
High walls hemmed it in on either side, leaving only a sliver of sky overhead. The sun hung directly above.
Qi Zhao walked at the front; everyone else behind him had already gone their separate ways.
Only Xu Bingwen remained a few steps behind, as though the midday heat had dragged at his feet.
They were barely halfway down the passage when Qi Zhao stopped and turned slightly, as if something had stuck to the sole of his shoe.
"Vice Minister Qi." Xu Bingwen's voice came from behind him.
"The midday heat is at its fiercest. Why hurry so? Take care it doesn't assail your heart."
Qi Zhao straightened and turned around.
Sunlight cleaved straight down from overhead, its scorching glare making him narrow his eyes.
"You seem in no hurry, Vice Director Xu." He shaded his forehead with his sleeve, his tone mild.
"What, have you yet to savor the last lingering flavor of Grand Secretary Kou's words?"
Xu Bingwen smiled, but the smile floated on his face without reaching his eyes.
He took two steps forward and stood beside Qi Zhao.
Then he looked up at that dazzling sliver of sky and made a seemingly unrelated remark:
"Reader-in-Waiting at the Directorate of Classical Studies. Subordinate Fifth Rank."
"He oversees the Eastern Palace's classics and books. Before the Crown Prince's lectures, they first pass through his hands."
Qi Zhao did not reply. He merely squinted down the passage, as if measuring how much farther he had to walk.
Xu Bingwen did not wait for an answer, but continued on his own:
"The rank isn't high, but the post has one advantage: proximity to the Crown Prince.
"He goes through the classics, histories, masters,