That night, in the Palace of Heavenly Purity.
Candles glimmered, and a scroll of confidential records lay open on the Imperial Desk.
An attendant had recorded every word of the conversation between the Crown Prince and Wei Nisheng in the Hall of Literary Splendor and presented it to the emperor that evening.
The emperor unrolled it and read very slowly.
He had always been this way: quick to review memorials, slow to read people's words.
The pages turned one after another, without sound or pause.
He skimmed the military farmland system and the tea-horse trade strategy without any change in expression, since full memorials on both would certainly be submitted the following day.
Only when he reached the discussion of the enemy state did he read closely.
"Empress Dowager Liang... Liang Yimai... abolishing Han rites, restoring foreign rites...
Purging the imperial clan, two factions locked in strife..."
The emperor murmured in puzzlement, "Analysis may explain some of this, but how does Wei Zi know so much, and in such detail? Even to my eyes, his words ring true."
With that, he set down the confidential record and called, "Wang Cheng."
"Your servant is here."
"Bring me the reports from the Secret Guards. Let us compare them."
Wang Cheng answered and took a thin booklet from his sleeve, presenting it with both hands. "Your Majesty."
"Because the Secret Guards' reports must travel such great distances, they are mostly transmitted in code along the way. Passed from one relay to another, their original meaning can easily shift, so most of what reaches us comes in fragments."
"Your servant will select a few important ones and read them to Your Majesty. 'Liang' has appeared three times in reports from the Tangut palace in recent months.
'Han rites' appeared once in an edict and