Jinghe Year Fifteen, the third day of the fifth month. Clear skies.
Old tiles gave way to new eaves; loquat and willow were planted in the courtyard.
The embroidery workshop south of the city raised its beams, and children all along the streets begged for celebratory sweets.
In the duty room of the Ministry of Works Construction and Repairs Office, the windows stood half open. The summer heat had yet to build, and the breeze through the room carried a fresh, astringent scent.
Zhou Yan, Vice Director of the Ministry of Works Construction and Repairs Office, sat behind his desk, a freshly drawn roll of Residence Plans beside him.
The ink at the edges had not yet dried. Clearly, the plans had just been taken from the drafting table.
What the Construction and Repairs Office did best was turn the Son of Heaven's wishes into timber, stone, and brick.
Then, following every proper procedure, it pushed them before the person they ought to be pushed before.
Director Liu He stood beside a side desk, holding another roll of drawings, apparently a spare.
Their eyes occasionally met, but neither spoke, as though they were waiting for someone.
(Zhou Yan had first appeared as a Director and had since been promoted to Vice Director; Liu He had first appeared as a Department Secretary and had since been promoted to Director.)
Before long, footsteps approached along the corridor, boot soles scuffing the blue bricks with a somewhat dragging gait.
A moment later, Wei Mingde stepped over the threshold in a half-worn Scarlet Robe.
After entering, he first cupped his hands to Zhou Yan, then gave Liu He a slight nod, his movements thoroughly deferential.
"Vice Director Zhou, Director Liu, you summoned this subordinate. Does the Construction and Repairs Office have a new