The man in official robes began to tell his story.
His was a long story, but it was short to tell.
Years ago, while traveling to the capital for the imperial examinations, he had lost his satchel and fled the mountains in a panic. By chance, he encountered the family of the woman who would become his wife. The following year, with the new emperor holding a special examination and with the help of the Yue Family, he returned to the capital for the exams and finally passed. He languished at court for twenty-two years as a minor official until he backed the wrong faction and was demoted to a post in the Southern Border. It was on his journey there that he had unexpectedly stumbled upon the same tavern from all those years ago.
The man gave Qin Ziwen a deep bow from a distance. "The road ahead is long and arduous. If fate allows, perhaps we will meet again."
