Anecdotes

Land of Nowhere · 75

• "The Qi Family"Ju RuiwenThe tranquility at Ragehoof Hamlet belies a surging undercurrent. Shadows have been spotted within: suspicious figures rotating shifts thrice daily…
• Qi Family DividedQi Jingliang, Yu JianruThe Qi family, a lineage of renowned horse tamers, has fractured. One faction, under Qi Yitang, remains by Hutuo River to train steeds for the…
• Midnight Echoes from the DeepQi Zhaotang, Jiang CongxinIn the dead of night, an ominous boom shook the foundations of Ragehoof Hamlet. It seemed a secret tunnel had collapsed, burying the ill-gotten…
• Shadows of Aureate PavilionWei XuanFollowing Li Bian's passing, Aureate Pavilion emerged from the south, lurking across the Central Plains for a chance to strike. Curiously, as the…
• A Path Carved in BloodQi Boyi, Qi ZhongshuangTo bolster Wang Qing's defense against the Khitans, the Raging Tides carved a path of blood through the northern encirclement, finally joining the…
• The Khitan InterceptionDu ShangxianSupply wagons from the south have been pillaged by Khitans, while the northern routes lie under the shadow of ambush. Beset by perils from within and…
• Three Hundred Well of Heaven DisciplesKong Wenwen, Li GeMany clans of the jianghu have journeyed afar to join the fray. Among them, the Well of Heaven arrived with the greatest fanfare, three hundred…
• One Cake, Two WinsXu Yuanshuo, Gao LiangThe army has issued rations of griddlecakes to the wanderers, serving both as a humble reward and a means to steady the troops' morale.
• The Vanished Dragonbend AcademyHu Ni, Zhu KeWith General Wang Qing's support, Crane established Dragonbend Academy on Dragonbend Mountain. Yet as the decisive battle nears, the Academy has…
• Seizing the Northern BridgeAo Nian, Jian WenfuGeneral Wang Qing is set to lead his host across Hutuo River, seize Zhongdu Bridge, and deploy on the northern bank. From there, he will strike into…
• To Journey Afar for HonorZeng ShaojieThe food camp has gathered wanderers from everywhere. Most have come driven by their own sense of justice, ready to offer their lives to the nation…
• Chaos in the CapitalZhu Tian, Shi YueIn Kaifeng, a sense of peril grips every soul. The affluent flee in panic, while the destitute scramble to hoard grain. Though the flames of war have…
• Racing for GrainDuan YingbaiWith winter looming and battle imminent, farmers are racing to sow new sprouts. The verdant wheat shoots represent more than food. They are a vow…
• Terraced Fields UnfoldingZou XingshengThis was once a desolate wasteland. Stone by stone, the people raised embankments and blanketed them with soil. Through generations of unceasing…
• The Mysterious SpearmanYu Yang, Cui MingmingThe Khitan cavalry frequents this place, but a lone spearman once rose to strike them back. A man of elusive ways, he refused to divulge his name or…
• The Burden of TaxationWang Boda, Zhao AnSummer and autumn levies, tool fees, hide taxes, and wastage surcharges for transport, each weight pressed upon the farmer's brow is a year of…
• The Illustrious SouthernerBa He, Xiao TuyuA noble from the south once graced Tigerfall Grove. The Khitan sovereign dispatched countless envoys to establish contact, yet no one returned from…
• Useless MachinesPi YouxiangCrane brought a wealth of intricate Mohist creations to aid Wang Qing against the Khitans. However, Du Chongwei condemned them as "heretical sorcery"…
• Imperial MercyLuanchengOver a hundred Khitan riders ravaged Luancheng, tattooing "Imperial Mercy" upon the faces of the people before herding them south. This cruelty was…
• The First StepCrane's InvitationUpon its founding, Dragonbend Academy chose Luancheng as the cradle for its teachings. It was here that the Academy took its first stride toward the…
• Aegis of Northern VowBig Dye VatFor years, the peace of Luancheng was bought by the Northern Vow. Consequently, the local populace reposes more faith in its aegis than in the…
• The Origins of Zhao TieLuanchengOriginally a commoner of the Yanyun region, Zhao Tie attempted to return to the Central Plains with his family in secret during the third year of…
• Textiles of LuanchengGrandpa ZanThe dyeing techniques of Luancheng had not been taught by Dragonbend Academy, but were born of the people's own ingenuity, inspired by the Academy's…
• Death of XiaoyiSu Siniang, Su FuguiBy the time Zhao Tie returned to Luancheng, Zhao Buyi had already perished. By luring the Khitans away alone, he exchanged his life for those of the…
• The Hope of LuanchengChai Dalang, Chai ErlangWhen Luancheng was but a desolate ruin of empty hearths and abject poverty, it was Master Crane who sowed the seeds of hope once more.
• MoleChai BoyueThe Jin Army of the North Camp had the South Hutuo Bank completely secured. Without a traitor within, the Khitan cavalry could never have bypassed…
• The Great ChillYuan WanyuSince the twilight of the Tang Dynasty, the frost has grown more biting with each passing year. Though the change was subtle, the recurring cold…
• The Third MeetingChai QiuyiCrane and Wang Qing crossed paths only three and a half times in their lives, their final encounter being in Luancheng. From that point, each…
• Peng's OmenWang Yuan, Li GoushengAt Crane's invitation, Peng arrived in Luancheng, only to stumble upon a plot against Mohist Hill disciples. Determined to unmask the shadow behind…
• The Khitans' True IntentShu Tu, Ba LvluThe Khitan cavalry's flanking assault may hold a purpose far darker than merely severing the Jin Army's supply lines. Their true quarry may be the…
• The Peculiar MonkeyMonkey KingThe Monkey King traversed many lands: the Toilgrain Barn, Luancheng, the North Camp, and Ragehoof Hamlet, seeking a savior for that person. Yet, none…
• A Shady DealKhitan ChieftainDriven by the lure of filthy lucre, Du Chongwei allowed the Khitan forces to bypass the lines and descend upon Dragonbend Mountain. This blitzkrieg…
• Memorial TabletsJing Ran, Auntie XuThe Memorial Tablets in Guhong Temple were erected by locals for the nameless wanderers who once laid down their lives here. Yet through years of…
• The Hour of "Ah Mu San"Ah Mu SanA Jin soldier styling himself "Ah Mu San" escaped the ranks with a severe head injury, bearing some apparent grudge against Du Chongwei. In his…
• Tidings of the Zhenguan JadeLou Jinglan, Xiao CheA master in black once leaked word of Wang Qing's possession of the Zhenguan Jade to Du Chongwei. Driven by greed, Du pressured Wang to surrender the…
• Northern Vow CampJiang WenshengGuhong Temple was originally a temporary station for the Northern Vow. Though at odds with Du Chongwei, they sought to avoid a direct confrontation…
• The Unreached RationsImperial Decree to Li Gu, Transport Official of the Northern FrontFollowing urgent reports from the front, the Imperial Court requisitioned five hundred thousand piculs of grain and fodder from the northern…
• Authentic and Forged LettersWan Fuquan, Shen JifangWell of Heaven disciples received two conflicting letters from General Wang Qing: one summoning them to the front, the other commanding their…
• Secret Frontline ReportLi Gu, Du DuhuLi Gu, the Transport Official of the Northern Front, submitted a secret memorial to the Jin Court detailing the army's peril. He urged the Emperor to…
• Zhenguan JadeFu Wei, Xia Kaizhi, Guo FengRumors swirl within the jianghu that the Zhenguan Jade is held by Wang Qing. Many of the wanderers want to seize it for themselves.
• Scourge of MaraudersWang DajiaoAcross the Hutuo region, rogue soldiers run rampant, committing every conceivable atrocity. They steal wealth, seize grain, press-gang the…
• The True ThiefWei Xiao, Tang YuEncamped in safety, Du Chongwei spares no thought for repelling foes or shielding the people. Instead, he covertly maintains a cabal of brigands to…
• The Vacant SeatJiang QiuheEver since the Well of Heaven's former Leader, Wang Qing, defected, his seat has remained vacant, left untouched by any successor. It is whispered…
• The Precious Fur CollarGuan Mingfei, Jiang XueUpon hearing of the Northern Vow's dire lack of funds and food, the Well of Heaven disciples, upon reaching the Toilgrain Barn, pawned their most…
• For Life Within DeathYou YongAmidst the mountains of the slain, a lone soul lies in wait, feigning death. He endures the agonizing stench of decay and the gnawing of maggots…
• Land of IniquityWu KaiSince Du Chongwei unleashed his troops to pillage, the land, once with peerless scenery, has withered into ruins. Now, only the crackle of flames…
• The Nameless OneLiu Di, Qian Yuanyong, Sun JunjunStrangers to one another, these three were bound together only by the shared trauma of the soldiers' cruelty. Though they remain nameless to each…
• Soldier or Savage?Jia HaohaoAs it turns sunny at times and rainy at other times, so do people vary between the noble and the vile. Countless refugees prayed that an encounter…
• The UntouchableKang Min, Wei QingShi Jiuge granted the Raging Tides disciples free rein across the Hutuo region, to steal from rogue soldiers or duel with fellow wanderers at will…
• Those Ensnared in the MundaneLin Xiansheng, Xiao HeyiThe Inkbound Order is the most disciplined sect under heaven. Yet even they have sensed a betrayal of oaths and a hidden hand at work: someone is…
• Useless WheatLi CuoThough the fields appear a shimmering gold, the harvest thins with each passing year. As the frost bites deeper, the wheat stands blighted and…
• The Pulse of the RanksLiu ShuishengRumors of the rift between Wang Qing and Du Chongwei permeate the ranks. Many hail Wang as a paragon of martial skill and righteousness, beloved by…
• Children First, Then WanderersA Gui's Sister-in-lawAn unwritten law has taken root among the refugees outside the camp: any scrap of surplus food goes first to the young, then to the wanderers, and…
• Upholding Justice for the CourtHong Laosan, Qian LaoliuIn this age of chaos, the imperial soldiery is nowhere to be found. Fortunately, righteous souls of the jianghu have stepped forward to fill the…
• "The Angler Weirdo"Mao San'er, Sun Dama"Long rod high and hat peaked low, a croaking crank is on the go. With a kindly face, he draws near. Hey! Your purse is bare and your head is clear."…
• Insufficient ManpowerFu Youzhi, Jin Zheng, Zhang YaoThe Mohist Hill disciples who hurried to Zhongdu Bridge repeatedly offered their counsel to the Jin Army, volunteering to rebuild the bridge to aid…
• Nights of RevelryLi Quan, Ren TianInside Du Chongwei's tent, provisions were overflowing, and the nights were lost to ceaseless feasting, a stark contrast to the refugee camp just a…
• Northern Vow WhereaboutsFan Zeyu, Jian ShuiyunDing Xiang, Qian Duoduo, the Qi couple... word has it the braves of the Northern Vow did not wait for the appointed hour, but marched early to the…
• Hope in a HoleWang ZhirongDu Chongwei kept the North Camp impenetrable, yet his defenses were aimed at the very wanderers coming to his aid. The only entry is a lowly…
• The Price of Silver NeedleHuang YunshaoThough no commands were issued, the Silver Needle disciples converged upon Zhongdu Bridge. The "price" they sought was naught but a glimmer of hope…
• The Lady StrategistField Camp Jin SoldierAtop Dragonbend Mountain dwells a lady strategist who has weathered dozens of battles. Despite her modest fame, her mind is full of grand stratagems…
• The Battle of Jin'an FortElder LiIn the year 936, during the Battle of Jin'an Fort, the Tang general Zhao Dejun surrendered to the Khitan. His three thousand soldiers of the…
• Silver-Saddle Khitan Regiment's FallTabuyan, NiangunThe Silver-Saddle Khitan Regiment was an elite unit formed in Youzhou by Zhao Dejun, the Lulong Governor of the later Tang. Comprised mainly of…
• The ReaperLu Yuande, Ning HeguangDu Chongwei profited by unleashing lawless soldiery, while Jiang Yan offered up their severed heads in response. So long as these rogue soldiers…
• Every Inch CoveredXiao Tatu, Kun, CanggeFollowing the Academy's breakout, the Khitan did not relent, scouring every inch of the woods for survivors.
• One Last ChanceYi ZixuanTo Lone Cloud, all things in creation could serve as game pieces. Having exhausted her heart and soul, Yi Zixuan discerned four points on the…
• The Last EmberKhitan ChieftainThe Khitans seek to enforce their own culture upon Dragonbend Academy, turning it into a cradle for their nobility and the first step to a universal…
• A Desperate StruggleKhitan WarriorMany Dragonbend disciples fought at Zhongdu Bridge, their Mechanical Arts inflicting heavy casualties upon the Khitans. This earned the Academy the…
• Register of the Mohist DisciplesPu GaiDu Chongwei compiled a register of Mohist disciples wandering outside and presented it to the Khitans. Before the enemy could strike, some Mohist…
• Twelve Pleas for SuccorLi the SwiftDuring the Battle of Zhongdu Bridge, General Wang Qing dispatched twelve successive pleas for aid to Du Chongwei, yet all vanished without a reply…
• Skull PileSwift-Legged ZhangAs the Khitans reinforced with fresh troops, Wang Qing's men had no further resources to draw upon, yet they fought to their last breath. On that…
• Black and White EmissariesCoachmanBefore the battle at Zhongdu Bridge, two scholars, one in black, the other in white, hired a carriage toward Hutuo, only to vanish without a trace…
• Ruthless EradicationYu JianruThe Khitans eventually detected the Qi family's clandestine moves, learning they had covertly aided the Northern Vow and Wang Qing while leaking…
• No Grain LeftLi GuRefugees and deserters flocked to the Toilgrain Barn, desperate for even a few grains of rice. Though the Toilgrain Barn had long been picked clean…
• Wildfire UnquenchedDeng Yi, Lin FengWanderers led by the Northern Vow arrived to oversee the civilian evacuation. The resentment towards the disastrous defeat remains eternal. For now…

Outer Court · 29

The Great Palace of Kaifeng sought not to dazzle with opulence, but to ground the state in lasting order. Its grandeur is meant to establish a system, not boast of a single era's glory. Though the imperial gates rise high, they stand with…

• The Fifth Volume IZhang Shuo, Sang Xiwen, Zhi WeipingFor a lifetime, the old academicians devoted themselves to compiling primers. This was their fifth curriculum; yet after fifty years, which of these…
• The Fifth Volume IIZhang Shuo, Sang Xiwen, Zhi WeipingTheir lifelong wish fulfilled, the academicians prepare to retire to their homeland. While new ideas brew, this ambition remains unquenched. Though…
• At the Chancellor's ThresholdCheng Cai, Li ZunThe parrot outside the Grand Hall has heard the Chancellor talk for so long that now it puffs out its chest and parrots his words, putting on quite…
• The Law of Copper RedemptionGan Changsong, Jiang Si, Yu BaicongUnder Song law, certain offenses could be absolved by paying a sum in copper coin.
• Incessant CalamitiesXu ZhiDisasters came one after another, and some regions were struck by several in quick succession. The task of disaster relief grew ever more dire.
• Bookkeeping ErrorsQi PingIn bookkeeping, the finest details are the most treacherous. A major blunder is easily found, often a mere slip of the brush. Yet behind minor errors…
• Desperately Short of HandsLiao Ran, Wen Qing, He GuozhiTo compile the Penal Code, the Chongwen Academy is so short-staffed it has resorted to every means imaginable to find help!
• Statutory CategoriesChang Liufang, Song Bicheng, Yang MingThe Song Penal Code is divided into twelve main titles: General Principles, Imperial Security, Official Conduct, Household and Marriage, Stables and…
• The Gifted CookXu Zhi, Bi ShujinThe West Reserve once took in a woman. Though not fully in her right mind, she was a remarkable cook, and by that one skill secured a place for…
• The Subtleties of PrecedenceTao Gu, Li FangTao Gu proposed a reform to the Court Precedence. Upon the decree, Hanlin academicians, once ranked above ministers, were relegated below vice…
• Chongyuan HallLiu ChengyiAll grand ceremonies of the court were held in the Chongyuan Hall: the enthronement of a new emperor, the Grand Court Assemblies on the winter…
• Rumors of the UncannyWang Shou'enAccording to the attendants on duty, ghastly wails echo through the Chongyuan Hall at the stroke of midnight. Some speak of demonic mischief; others…
• The Grand Nuo RiteXu ShiAs locusts and droughts ravage the land and leave the masses in destitution, the Court decrees the Grand Nuo for year's end, to invoke blessings for…
• Rumors of Secret TreasureChen ZhaojiRumors spread of a newly established treasury within the palace, housing peerless rarities. Such tales have stirred the avarice of scoundrels and…
• Malevolence PurgedChen ZhaojiWith the Grand Nuo concluded, the eerie echoes that long haunted the Chongyuan Hall have ceased. It is whispered throughout the palace that the…
• A Culture of CourtesyWang Yan, Chen XinPrior to the court assembly, a sudden wave of courtesy often sweeps through the officials. This is no mere pursuit of harmony, but a tactical…
• Of Literate OfficersXi Bosui, Ruan XieThe Emperor desires all military officials to master letters and classics, that they might grasp the ways of governance instead of relying solely on…
• New Draughts from Old WellsLi Yongqing, Wang Sheng, Chen FengzhiUpon his ascension, the Emperor did not purge the previous reign's ministers, but instead entrusted the capable among them with grave…
• Palace Guards' GrievancesJia Qiao, Li Mu, Ma YingGuards of the Palace Guard Office stationed at Wenming Hall feel their dawn-to-dusk vigil for the court's safety is far more grueling than the vague…
• Paragon of FrugalityQi HongThe Emperor remains industrious and frugal, maintaining his modest lifestyle even after conquering the realm. He once bestowed his old hemp sandals…
• Visitors from JianghuShi WengangFrom time to time, people from the jianghu would seek an audience with the Emperor by presenting a token. Even the attendants who served closest to…
• Of Canine IntelligenceLian Qiao, Liu DongqingThe palace keeps dogs as sentinels against theft; some are startlingly clever, almost seeming to read human minds.
• A Monk's CounselLu Yumeng, Zhou FangyuanIn his youth, the Emperor once met an old monk in Xiangyang who told him to go north for an opportunity. He followed that word to Hebei and found his…
• Scholar vs. WarriorHe Wukui, Su WenjieWenjie ("civil talent") took up arms, while Wukui ("martial champion") entered the civil service. In the same court, one loathed its pettiness, the…
• The Fifth WatchChang YouluAs the drumbeat quickens and the Herald of Dawn crows, the forbidden gates swing open. At the first quarter of the Mao hour, the officials file into…
• How Could a Ladle Hold a DragonChen Sansi, Liu ZaipinWang Yanchao of Fengxiang once refused to take the Emperor in. At a banquet, when His Majesty mentioned it, Wang kowtowed and said, "I was only a…
• Worth the TroubleMin ZijianTo cricket-fighting enthusiasts, insects caught within the palace walls seem imbued with imperial nobility. Guards often scour the thickets under the…
• The Martial AttendantLi Hui, Chen YuOnce a soldier of great skill, the Emperor found no equal after ascending the throne. He gathered a circle of attendants famed for their martial arts…
• The Emperor and SparrowsOld Ma, XiaoniuIn his leisure, the Emperor amused himself by shooting sparrows with a slingshot. Once, a minister interrupted him with trivialities while he was in…

Inner Chambers · 30

The Great Palace of Kaifeng sought not to dazzle with opulence, but to ground the state in lasting order. Its grandeur is meant to establish a system, not boast of a single era's glory. Though the imperial gates rise high, they stand with…

• A Vacant PostXue Ji, Feng QizhengA senior general's post within the Palace Guard Office has remained vacant for an age. Though speculation regarding a successor is rife, the position…
• Rite of Archery BanquetsZuo Wenxuan, Lu AoDuring the Rites of Archery Banquets, the Emperor would host banquets for his ministers, kin, and foreign envoys to practice archery. The Purity…
• Of Literate WarriorsSun Quanxue, Lyu ShibieWitnessing the brutality of warlords during the Five Dynasties, the Emperor sought to civilize his generals through the classics, broadening their…
• Imperial Rescript of the Inner CourtHe Yin, LiuyunCloistered within the deepest reaches of the palace, the female officials maintain a rigorous order, tasked with the review of memorials and the…
• Simplicity in All ThingsYu RujingWith the dynasty newly founded and everything awaiting revival, the Emperor has decreed that all palace affairs be kept simple. Extravagance is…
• Brocade Carp KingRuo Ou, Ruo LuPalace rumors speak of a colossal Brocade Carp King in the rear garden. Some claim its golden scales bring fortune to those who behold it; others…
• Palace CloudsZhang Yuefeng, Fang HesongAs the Astronomy Calendar has drifted over the years, Lone Cloud disciples were invited by Wang Chune, the Deputy Director of the Imperial…
• A Maiden DisguisedCen Zhuxing, Wang ChuneOriginally a Mohist Hill disciple, Cen Zhuxing sought the star charts and celestial tomes within the Directorate of Astronomy, which held the finest…
• Dynastic EchoesMadam Gao, Madam WangMany palace consorts are remnants of the previous dynasty. Out of the Emperor's benevolence, they remain sheltered within the palace walls even after…
• Palatial ShadeShen ShuyueUpon imperial summons, Velvet Shade disciples entered the palace to perform music and dance for the consorts. Bearing the Emperor's decree, they…
• The Five Great MastersZhang Tieqiang, Zheng ShizhuThe Funing Hall teems with talent. In private, the palace maids dubbed the five most skilled martial artists the "Five Great Masters." Some more…
• Memorials ResubmittedMan'er, Cheng HanTo recommend a prized talent, Scholar Zhao submitted repeated memorials. At first, the Emperor was unimpressed; eventually, incensed by the…
• Amity and Shared JoyGao Huailiang, Pan CongyiThe Emperor showed great amity toward the palace maids of the Funing Hall and Kunning Hall, even joining them in Cuju, cricket fighting, or martial…
• Mutual Support and RestraintShao Qin, Chong Gui, ShenfuWithin the Imperial Palace, the Emperor, ministers, and palace maids are bound by mutual support and restraint. To prevent oversight, all affairs…
• A Commoner's PalateXiaotong, XueyanThough of Imperial lineage, the Emperor and the Sage maintained tastes in food and leisure much like those of commoners. Occasionally, they would…
• Paragon of FrugalityProvisions Chief Zhang, Provisions Chief SunThe Emperor ever championed thrift; his daily attire consisted mostly of everyday robes repeatedly laundered. Abhorring ostentation, he dealt…
• Private CollectionsCivil Official Li, Civil Official CuiRather than pursuing the goal of promoting literary pursuits among military officials, some officials prioritized winning the Emperor's favor at the…
• Days of Easy PeaceYi XinEmpress Dowager Du, never one to be idle, often strolls to Shengping Tower for music and plays. The Emperor frequently joins her there, hosting…
• Bureau of Cavalry and Infantry ReformLi Shangwen, Wu YiThe Bureau of Cavalry and Infantry was set up to detain and try soldiers who broke military law, so its appointments and management were long handled…
• Undercurrents in DrinksQi HaoAt Shengping Tower, a private musical gathering is being arranged, an informal evening with a few guests and a relaxed ceremony. It's presented as a…
• Enduring FragranceYihuiEmpress Dowager Mingxian's greatest pleasure, aside from music and drama, was tending her plants. She loved them without discrimination, and the…
• Shadows in the Rear GardenQiang'erRumors of ghosts in the rear gardens have put everyone on edge. A skilled servant from the Culinary Office teaches martial arts, and the women of the…
• Spite in the Forlorn PalaceNianxue, SuzhaoThe Forlorn Palace of the previous reign now stands empty by day, but at midnight, palace maids still whisper of a thin, sorrowful crying that drifts…
• Remnants of the Former ReignSuxue, Madam LiMany consorts are survivors of the former reign; even after three years, they remain anxious and uneasy about what the future may bring.
• Curtailing ExpendituresZhang Yu, Zhang SuThe Emperor rules with zealous thrift, cutting palace expenses and keeping a plain, hardworking manner.
• Palm of HealthFu Ji, Zhang LiufengThough they have entered the imperial service, these wanderers remain true to their roots. Two have now pledged to promote "Palm-Strike Fitness" to…
• The Revival of Ritual and MusicExtended Continuation of the Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in GovernmentThrough years of turmoil in the Central Plains, the rites and music fell into neglect. The Emperor, seeking to rectify this, ordered the Imperial…
• Sacred Festival CelebrationsHistory of Song, Volume 65, Rites 15 (Festive Rites III)In the first year of Jianlong, ministers petitioned to designate February 16, the Emperor's birthday, as Changchun Festival, symbolizing the enduring…
• Tributes ForbiddenHistory of Song, Volume 65, Rites 15 (Festive Rites III)With Changchun Festival approaching, the court forbade birthday gifts to prevent officials from amassing wealth under the guise of celebration. The…
• Skimming BooksExtended Continuation of the Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in GovernmentThe Emperor cherished books as much as his very life. During the Huainan campaign, he was falsely accused of embezzlement; upon investigation, it was…

Central Bureaus · 15

The Great Palace of Kaifeng sought not to dazzle with opulence, but to ground the state in lasting order. Its grandeur is meant to establish a system, not boast of a single era's glory. Though the imperial gates rise high, they stand with…

• The Rivalry of the Two BureausBu Qin, Xu ChiSince being marginalized, the Palace Guard Office had been tirelessly drilling on the training grounds, vowing to contend for supremacy with the…
• Pruning the RanksGeng ZhengIn midwinter, following a grand imperial review, the Emperor identified several aged and infirm guards from the Palace Guard Office. Some were…
• Benevolent Heart and Skillful HandsWen Tong, Zhang QiyunThe Imperial Medical Bureau was preparing to compile a treatise dedicated to gynecology, covering postpartum symptoms, daily maintenance, and other…
• Ice AllotmentZhang QuanThe Imperial Ice Bureau has been established within the palace to oversee the vital tasks of harvesting, storing, and allotting ice.
• Refugees in the CityChang Chuan, Wu DaliAs natural disasters ravaged the land and harvests failed, the city swelled with refugees. To prevent unrest among the famished, the Investigation…
• Old Hands and NewcomersYixinRumors of hauntings in the Imperial Repositories are rife. Many veteran palace maids from the Culinary Office dare not venture there, instead…
• Rumors of HauntingChang Yuu, Cui Yan, Wu KeAs rumors of ghosts in the Imperial Vaults escalate, some claim to hear wailing at midnight. They said it was the restless spirits of those slain in…
• The Mysterious StorehouseYue Wenzhang, Lian ZaiThe abandoned medicinal herb storehouse was seen heavily guarded by the Imperial Service. Several imperial physicians were spotted there, seemingly…
• The Palace Gate InterdictsRong YuThe Imperial Service oversees the interdicts of the Imperial City, governing the night watch and the opening of the gates. Each gate is assigned two…
• Rumors of a ThiefLianzi, LianxinFor reasons unknown, word has spread that an intruder has infiltrated the palace, and the Imperial Service is in full pursuit. Those on watch haven't…
• From Sisters to StrangersShuangju, FengheFor some reason unknown, the once-close Directors of Wardrobe and Craft have grown distant. Now, even their subordinates are constrained in each…
• The Dismissal of Palace MaidsTingyanAll palace maids may decide their own stay or departure without compulsion. While this reduces the redundant expenses of the Inner Court and allows…
• Gourmet StallYao Wei, Cen YuAll palace commerce and tributes passed through a specific gate, where various bureaus set up stalls to sell rare goods and refreshments. Among these…
• Mutton BunsYao Wei, Cen YuSteamed buns were a celebrated delicacy of the day, featuring a myriad of fillings. The mutton-filled variety, in particular, was a perennial…
• An Extra Meal for PrisonersXing Rufeng, Fan ZhixingIn the Imperial Prison, inmates who voluntarily provide clues the Imperial Prison has not yet uncovered, or who proactively pay their fines, may be…

No place named · 5

• Brother Bear's AmbitionBrother BearBrother Bear isn't content with ruling his little patch of turf. He's bulking up on fish, getting ready for the next big challenge. Clearly, the fish…
• The Master Cat PetterHelpless KittenBy day, the monk plays the part of a serene master. But at night, even he can't resist the lure to pet the cat.
• The Art of TamingWhite Mountain GoatLegend has it, if you can ride the white mountain goats without being thrown off, there's a chance you'll learn a legendary martial skill. But hey…
• Factions at WarPerson Inside the HouseThe feud between the Unbound Cavern and Nine Mortal Ways is well-known, but few from the Jianghu dare get involved.
• The DarkroomWoman Inside the HouseAccording to the women inside, anyone who goes against Hong Si's will ends up locked in a terrifying darkroom.