A court historian's integrity was nothing more than defying the powerful and recording the truth

Nothing more!

Court historians.

A sacred office handed down since remote antiquity, said to have descended from Cangjie, the Sage of History, it held an exalted status. In particular, the importance Sage King Ji Zhao and the Luo Clan placed on history had created the prevailing ethos.

Grand Historian.

An office passed down through generations, responsible for keeping the records of Great Han.

In a corner of the palace, Sima Qian knelt quietly.

The Sima Clan had been hereditary court historians since before Qin. He was not merely one man; he also bore the honor of generations of ancestors.

When the evening drums sounded, he left the palace. The rear palace was not somewhere he could enter; others would keep those records.

Then he met Luo Qing.

Luo Qing had arrived in a very plain carriage, without the slightest lavish ornamentation. Seeing Sima Qian emerge, Luo Qing stepped out of the carriage in plain clothes, straightened the creases in his garments, and solemnly bowed with clasped hands. "Qing pays his respects to the Grand Historian."

"Qian pays his respects to the Young Master."

Sima Qian returned the bow, then asked with some puzzlement, "Young Master, have you come here to see me?"

Luo Qing nodded. "Indeed."

At this, Sima Qian swept out a hand and said clearly, "Young Master, please come to my residence to talk."

The two entered the hall together and sat down. Sima Qian asked why Luo Qing had come. Instead of answering, Luo Qing said, "Grand Historian, last time you said you wished to write an unprecedented comprehensive history. Matters were urgent then, and I had no time to ask in detail. Would you be willing to tell me about it today?

"The Luo Clan has recorded history for a thousand years. We truly wish to