The sixth day of the third month, at the Ministry of Rites.
The bell marking the end of the workday rang. Qin Yan left his office, two rolls of documents in his arms, and strolled slowly out.
His nature was gentle, and his steps were slow.
His official sedan chair waited outside the gate. In no hurry to board, he stood beneath the eaves, admiring the magnolias blooming beautifully in the courtyard.
"Lush is the sweet pear tree; neither prune it nor fell it, for beneath it Lord Shao once rested."
Standing beneath the Ministry of Rites' eaves, Qin Yan gazed at the magnolias and thought of Shouzheng.
Last year, in the tenth month, on the eve of his departure as envoy, Wei Shouzheng had come to Qin Yan's residence to bid farewell. The osmanthus had been in full bloom then.
Now the osmanthus had faded and the magnolias were just opening, yet there had been no word from Wei Shouzheng for five months.
"Qin Gong! Qin Gong!"
A cry burst out from behind a stone lion.
Startled, Qin Yan looked closely and saw that it was Wei Mingde.
Who knew how long he had waited outside the offices? The moment he saw Qin Yan, he stumbled forward, both hands trembling.
"Qin Gong! It's... it's me, Wei Mingde!"
Qin Yan nodded.
"Mingde." He hurriedly reached out to steady Wei Mingde.
"What are you doing here? Look how late it is. Come, get up first, and then we'll talk."
"Qin Gong!" Heedless of anything else, Wei Mingde seized Qin Yan's hand and asked urgently,
"Shouzheng... is there any news of Shouzheng? Has the Court... has the Court said anything?"
Seeing Wei Mingde's anxious face, Qin Yan instinctively averted his eyes. He had never been any good at lying.
In his