On the Seventh Month Fifteenth Day, at Yin Hour, the water clock had not yet finished marking the fifth watch.
In the Hall of Waiting for the Court, lamplight flickered like tiny beans. A pale blue-white line edged the distant sky, and the officials' carriages and horses already crowded together between darkness and dawn.
Lanterns shone like stars; horse bells chimed in scattered notes.
This was the first Grand Court Audience since Lord Feng had fallen gravely ill.
Court and country alike knew that only one ever-burning lamp remained beside Lord Feng's bed.
But...
Court must be attended, ranks must be filled!
The pillars of the Temple Court never left their places vacant for the sake of one man.
Before long, Shen Duan arrived first.
In a purple robe with a gold fish ornament, his temples white as frost beneath his five-ridged court crown, he walked alone beneath the corridor, clasped his hands behind his back, and watched the sky without exchanging a word with anyone.
Kou Yuan arrived afterward. Just as he stepped from his carriage, his eyes met Shen Duan's. Both nodded, neither speaking.
One was the Chief Minister, the other the leader of the Upright Officials. Since Lord Feng had ceased attending court, their flashing swords and gleaming blades no longer needed words.
The Tales of the World described Ji Kang as "towering like a lone pine standing apart."
The way Shen Duan stood today was just like that lone pine.
Though the pine stood alone, its roots already ran deep.
Though Kou had arrived later, his momentum was far from spent.
Two pines confronted each other. The courtyard was silent, yet wind already filled the tower.
"Would you two kindly stop blocking the way?"
Just then, the ranks of the Censorate were led in on