The mountains were as fair as ever.
He had grown haggard.
On the first day of the seventh month, the sun slanted westward.
The afternoon heat rolled with the cries of cicadas, wave after wave washing over the small courtyard outside West Peace Gate.
The leaves of the courtyard's jujube tree drooped in the scorching sun; green jujubes hid beneath them, utterly still.
Sunlight spilled over the western wall and fell squarely on the well's rim, dazzlingly bright.
Wei Nisheng stood before the hall, letting Fu Niang straighten his cap.
She rose on tiptoe, adjusted his jade hairpin, then stepped back half a pace to inspect him before nodding in satisfaction.
"There." She said, "Come home early today, my dear."
"I'm afraid I won't be able to today," Wei Nisheng said.
"Before I came home, Cui Fu told me Grand Secretary Song had invited me to his residence today."
"Grand Secretary Song?" Fu Niang's hands paused.
"Is it about Ningxia?"
"Most likely." Wei Nisheng smiled. "You're remarkably well informed."
"While you were on duty today, Officer Qiu's wife came over earlier and talked for half the day."
Fu Niang smoothed his lapels, her voice dropping.
"She said they were locked in a bitter dispute at court over a commander-in-chief's post.
If Grandpa were still awake, he would probably say again that men at court always fight over a chair until their heads split and blood flows."
Wei Nisheng said nothing.
Outside the courtyard gate, Cui Fu led someone in.
The newcomer was around forty, dressed in black with a blue sash.
One glance marked him as a longtime servant of the Song household. He walked briskly, but upon seeing Wei Nisheng, first offered a composed bow.
"Vice Director Wei."
"My grand secretary invites you to his residence for