The Legend of Zang Hai · Chat

Autumn, the sixth year of Zhenshun. The news that the Fengshan Terrace had collapsed along the Dongxia border reached the capital three days ahead of Kuai Duo himself. The lanterns of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau burned through the entire night. Chu Huaiming stood before the window, watching Kuai Duo's carriage roll down the long street, his palms drenched in sweat. Three days ago, he had placed Kuai Duo's itinerary onto the desk of Marquis Pingjin; right now, his only prayer was that the man would not look back. Kuai Duo did not look back. Carrying three bronze fish tucked against his chest, he stepped through the courtyard gate just as his wife was combing their daughter's hair. Zhinu was sprawled across the wall, counting the stars. His father had taught him: when the Ziwei Star dims, chaos shall fall upon the realm. In the subterranean chamber beneath the Manor of Marquis Pingjin, Zhuang Luyin sat clad in armor. Qu Jiao pushed open the door and murmured, "He has arrived." Zhuang Luyin did not even raise an eyelid; he simply turned over the portrait in his hand, setting it facedown upon the table. Inside the duty room of the Directorate of Ceremonial, Cao Jingxian was instructing his newly adopted son, Lu Jin, on pipa fingering techniques. The moment Lu Ran pushed open the door to report, the rapid strumming beneath his fingertips snapped. After listening to the report, he let out a soft chuckle: "Kuai Duo, oh Kuai Duo. Why couldn't you just be content as the Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau? Why insist on hunting down that Gui Seal?" When the operatives of the Eastern Depot vaulted over the courtyard wall, Zhinu was already dashing toward the cellar. His mother shoved him inside while his younger sister wept. Through the narrow gap in the cellar door, he saw his father pinned beneath the osmanthus tree, saw his mother throw herself forward, and saw the cold flash of a blade strike three times. Osmanthus blossoms blanketed the ground. After that night, the capital lost a child named Zhinu, and gained a man named Zang Hai. Inside the cellar, Zhinu clamped a hand over his mouth, his fingernails digging deep into his palms. He did not cry; he only counted—and when he reached fourteen, the courtyard fell silent.