Recorded by: Ding Xiaoliu Subject: Lyu Congshan, Deputy Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial Reason: A …
Recorded by: Ding Xiaoliu
Subject: Lyu Congshan, Deputy Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial
Reason: A holdover from the previous dynasty. Watch for any sign of disloyalty.
Second Month, Day 4
Started tailing Lyu Congshan today. The chief says he might be hiding something.
From what I can tell, he is not hiding anything. He is just sick in the head.
Today he was attending Lord Wang at the Privy Council. Lord Wang thought the tea was too hot and snapped a curse under his breath.
Lyu Congshan jumped like his tail was on fire and started fanning the teacup with his sleeve.
He fanned so hard the dust flew right into the tea.
Lord Wang took one look and his face went green. He flicked his sleeve in disgust.
Lyu Congshan was standing so close he got knocked flat.
Did he get mad? No.
He rolled once on the ground, popped right back up, and praised, "My lord, what power in your arm. One sweep like that, and you show the might of Great Song!"
Lord Wang stared at him like he was an idiot and walked off.
Second Month, Day 14
This morning I watched Lyu Congshan pawn a family jade pendant, all to buy a painting.
He carried it to the residence of Hanlin Academician Li Mingyuan.
He waited at the gate for two hours in the freezing cold, nose running the whole time.
Lord Li glanced at it and called it "third-rate" and "vulgar beyond measure."
Lyu Congshan froze on the spot. He clearly wanted to praise the thing, but he did not dare argue with Lord Li.
He stammered for ages and could not squeeze out a single proper sentence.
In the end, they got tired of him and threw him out.
I was up on a roof beam watching, and even I felt exhausted for him.
Third Month, Day 1
Today was even worse.
At Sun Yang Tavern, Lyu Congshan ran into an instructor from the Palace Guard.
The man was drunk, bragging that his boots were filthy and no one ever wiped them for him.
Lyu Congshan did not hesitate. He squatted down and started polishing the man’s boots.
In broad daylight. With people staring from all sides.
If I did not have to stay hidden, I would have dragged him away myself.
The instructor sobered up halfway, probably realized how it looked, and kicked Lyu Congshan off.
Then he cursed him for being spineless and a disgrace to Great Song.
I cannot say he was wrong.
Third Month, Day 15
Nearly two months of watching is enough.
Conclusion: no treason in him, and no ability for office either.
He claws at every powerful sleeve for one reason only: to stay alive.
He wants a master to tie himself to, because he thinks that is the only way to be safe.
Annoying to watch, but not dangerous.
Further surveillance unnecessary.