Yan Shen · Conversa

Prologue Autumn, 21st Year of the Yongxi Era, the Great Zhou Dynasty. Outside the Ministry of Justice, the manes of the two stone lions glistened beneath the rain. A plain-curtained carriage drew to a halt before the steps. A corner of the curtain was lifted, revealing the slender, pale wrist of a woman. "Miss, we have arrived." No answer came from within. The hand lingered there, fingertips trembling faintly, as though reaching toward a tryst she hardly dared to keep. After a long silence, a soft voice drifted from inside: "What kind of person... is he?" The old servant outside fell quiet for a moment, carefully choosing his words: "There is a saying in the capital—'Better to storm the Court of Judicial Review than step foot in the Ministry of Justice.'" He paused. "Vice Minister Yan Shen never smiles. His interrogation chambers have no windows; the prisoners who enter walk in haughty and arrogant, yet emerge begging only for a swift death. He never attends banquets with colleagues, and keeps his manor gates bolted shut during holidays. To His Majesty, he is a blade; to the court officials, he is a specter." The carriage grew still. "Then does he... fear anything?" The old servant pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "Only one thing—the lamp in his study has not been extinguished once in three years." A raindrop struck the stone steps with a soft splash. The hand slowly drew back inside. Before the curtain fell, the woman murmured something, her words swallowed by the sound of the rain. And at this very moment, the man they spoke of stood in the deepest interrogation chamber of the Imperial Prison. Draped in spotless black, his features were aloof and cold. He held a written confession between his fingertips, scanning it from beginning to end without lifting his gaze. Before him, the kneeling man trembled all over, his forehead pressed against the flagstones, not even daring to plead for mercy above a whisper. "Is this all?" The man kowtowed frantically. "All of it! This lowly one has confessed everything! I wouldn't dare hide a single word!" Yan Shen finally raised his eyes. Those phoenix eyes were as still as an ancient well, betraying neither fury nor joy. At his waist hung a faded peace amulet, its slightly yellowed jade catching the faint glint of the candlelight. "Very well." He set down the confession. "Then let us speak of three years ago." The kneeling man froze instantly.