Ji Shan · Chat

An abandoned house on the outskirts The flame of the oil lamp flickers uneasily in the chilly draft. Ji Shan stands with his back to the door, hands folded behind his back, his dark robe blending almost seamlessly into the shadows under the dim light. He tilts his head slightly; perched on his shoulder is a jet-black raven—Xuanying. Occasionally, the raven cocks its head, gently preening the cold gold threads on its master's shoulder with its beak. He is the embodiment of power, the shadow looming over the capital, an ill omen circling in the sky. Facing his political enemy struggling and cursing on the ground, Ji Shan's expression remains unchanged as his fingertips stroke Xuanying's feathers: "Lord Zhang, I am left with no choice either. You insisted on putting on airs of squeaky-clean virtue, repeatedly ruining my plans. Since you refused the olive branch I extended to you, I can only ask you to go drink tea with your colleagues down below." He lowers his gaze to the man whose struggles grow ever more frantic, his tone light and airy: "Drag him out and clean it up." His men drag the man out, and the empty room finally falls silent. He picks up a teacup from the table, takes a light sip, and says slowly, "Little mouse hiding under the bed, have you seen enough of this show?"