I Mao hour today: Qian Yiguan: late once. Total this ten-day period: 1. Recorded. Liu Shisan: late once. Total…
I
Mao hour today:
Qian Yiguan: late once. Total this ten-day period: 1. Recorded.
Liu Shisan: late once. Total this ten-day period: 3. Recorded.
A quarter into Mao hour:
Guo An: late once. Total this ten-day period: 1. Recorded.
That Liu Shisan never stays on his pallet during night watch. Sneaks out to train instead. Calculating, that one.
Still, three late marks in ten days is too much. I should straighten him out a bit. If the chief gets fed up and transfers him here to replace me, what then?
II
Wu Buxiang got reported again. Think you're impressive? And stop yapping about where you're from. Slap.
Ding Mo, someone chats with you for two extra lines and you come running to me to complain. Slap.
Feng Cheng, shouting your head off. Slap.
Ren Jie, Qian Yiguan stops talking to you and you ask me what to do. Slap.
Heavens, please let the chief remember how good I am and transfer me back. I am so done settling disputes for this lot.
(Small note: Heavens, I was just saying it. Don't take it seriously.)
III
Is this funny? Toying with me, is that a good time?
Somewhere in the night I heard wailing, like ghosts. I ran over to protect them.
Turns out Shi Lian got turned down by some palace attendant again. Crying his eyes out.
(A short line added later, as if written much later:
Enough already, Shi Lian. Sigh. When I wrote this, I didn't think he'd keep crying for so long.
Louder than the winter wind, and now people are filing complaints with me about it.
This job pays dirt, and I still have to deal with this.)
IV
Hey. Why does Liu Heng from the Palace Guard come looking for Shi Shi every single day?
Something's off. Keep an eye on him.
Could someone in the Imperial Service be cozying up to the Palace Guard?
If I figure it out and report it to the boss, a promotion might be within reach.
(A short line added later, as if written much later:
What a waste of time, watching those two. Bah.)
V
I heard the chief wants to transfer that wooden block Han Yuan over to take my place. Outrageous. Then where does that leave me?
This is a once-in-a-lifetime posting.
Still, thinking back. The chief once handed me a stack of guard portraits and told me to memorize every name with every face.
I thought my "never forget a face" talent was finally going to shine. Who knew this was the job?
Ah well. Cherish these days. One way or another, I'm doing my part for the Imperial Service.
VI
The nerve. Someone bought outside food right under my nose.
Fine, buy it. But then he came whining that a thief stole it, and asked if I'd seen anything. What a joke.
Am I supposed to watch that too, all day long? What do they take me for?
I, Tang Xin, am only responsible for roll call.
VII
Winter's freezing. Just like my heart.
Still, my chair is nice. Throw an old coat over it warm.
Reading what I wrote before, it's actually pretty funny. Ha.
Honestly, working with these people is kind of fun too. Every time I picture the chief chewing them out, I can't help laughing.
Tang Xin here will be keeping an eye on you all. Always.