After daybreak, Zuo Caixiang came to visit with his elder brother, dark circles beneath his eyes.
As a Black Sash of the Jing'an Directorate, even if he was only one of the Eastern Pacification Office's Street-Cleaning Tigers, he received the courtesies due his rank. Zhang Xing and Li Qingchen, both White Ribbons, sat with him as equals on the second floor, their accompanying Patrol Cavalry arrayed behind them. Both sides spoke politely.
But once they reached the substance of the matter, the Zuo Family's Third Brother gave a simple, unequivocal answer: "My eldest brother's wishes are my wishes!"
Even Li Qingchen found this incomprehensible. "Your eldest brother doesn't understand, but surely you understand the Jing'an Directorate's rules and discipline?"
Seven or eight years younger than Zuo Caihou and only in his early thirties, Black Sash Zuo Caixiang fell silent for a moment. Then he glanced at his eldest brother, who sat with his head lowered without speaking, and answered with difficulty, "I place greater faith in the laws of the state and the hearts of the people."
Li Qingchen was dumbfounded. Zhang Xing found it even more absurd.
After a long pause, Li Shierlang could not help pressing him. "Do you realize that we don't need state law or internal discipline? All it takes is a transfer order sending you to the Eastern Capital... and no one will ever know whether you're alive or dead again. You want state law and the people's hearts? We can let you give your all until you die of exhaustion in a black prison, how about that? What are state law and the people's hearts? The emperor's uncle is state law, and our inspector's Heaven-Reliant Sword is the people's hearts! You... what makes you think the Jing'an Directorate doesn't represent the court? It represents