The world of film and television begins with Hikaru no Go

Di Renjie rolled up the carriage curtain, looked at the street scene outside the window, and suddenly said, "At the beginning of our dynasty, Emperor Gaozu started his rebellion in Taiyuan."

Zhang Rui followed the gaze and looked outside. The history textbook mentioned Li Yuan's uprising in Taiyuan, but it only had a few lines and a year.

The Taiyuan before my eyes is much more vibrant, with the smell of vinegar, the steam of mutton offal soup, the noisy sounds of people in the evening market, and spotted dogs and children darting out from the alleys.

It felt as if those few lines in the book suddenly came to life, transforming into an evening with scents, warmth, and bustling activity.

Do you know when Emperor Gaozu raised his army?

"have no idea."

"In the thirteenth year of the Daye era, in July, Emperor Gaozu rallied his troops in Taiyuan. It was summer then, and the wheat on both sides of the Fen River had just been harvested. Outside the Jinyang Palace, soldiers transferred from Guanzhong stood in droves." Di Renjie leaned against the carriage wall. "From Taiyuan to Chang'an, the battle lasted less than a year. It's just a matter of a few words, but those who followed Emperor Gaozu on this road back then were risking their lives with every step they took."

The carriage turned into a slightly secluded alley, its wheels creaking as they rolled over the cobblestones.

Deep in the alley is an old house, with withered vines climbing the walls and the paint on the lintel peeling off, but the stone lions on both sides of the door frame are still standing strong, and the stone steps in front of the door are swept clean.

"This is the old residence of the Di family in Taiyuan." Di Gong lifted the carriage curtain. "Our ancestors have lived in the city since the Northern Dynasties, and I don't know how many generations have passed down to my generation."

The carriage came to a stop in front of the house. Di Chun stepped forward and pushed open the two mottled wooden doors. The hinges creaked, startling a gray sparrow on the wall, which fluttered up to the eaves.

The courtyard was small, paved with blue bricks. The window paper of the main house was old, and there were several half-withered potted plants under the eaves. It was clear that no one had lived there for a long time, but it was not overgrown. It was probably cleaned regularly by someone from the clan.

Judge Di stood in the center of the courtyard for a moment, his gaze sweeping from the eaves of the main house to the pillars of the corridor.

Zhang Rui looked over and saw that the paint on the pillars had cracked, revealing the wood grain underneath, but the pillars were still straight, firmly supporting the eaves.

"How many years has it been since you last came back?"

"I haven't come back to live here since I was transferred to Pengze."

Di Renjie walked much slower than usual, and as he passed under the corridor, he gently patted a pillar.

Di Chun was quick and efficient; he had already gone inside and lit the lamps.

Warm yellow light shone through the open door, illuminating a patch of blue brick in the courtyard.

Judge Di stood under the eaves and looked up at the sky.

The night sky in Taiyuan was clearer than in Youzhou, with stars scattered across the sky, shining coldly without any clouds or mist.

"Once we get to Taiyuan, things won't be as leisurely as on the road. There's a lot to do, so let's get some rest tonight."

The next morning, Di Renjie changed into his official robes and went to the Taiyuan Prefectural Government Office to hand over his duties.

The governor of Taiyuan has already made preparations for the emperor's sacrifice at the ancestral temple. Incense, candles, offerings, and ceremonial regalia have all been arranged, and all that remains is for Lord Di to set the date.

Judge Di looked at the almanac and set the date for the next morning.

After the business was concluded, Hao Chujun prepared wine and food to invite Di Gong to stay for a meal, but Di Gong declined, saying that he was tired from his journey and would talk another day, and then took his leave.

After leaving the government office, Di Renjie did not take a carriage, but instead led Zhang Rui on a tour of Taiyuan City.

Heading north along the empty passageway in front of the former Jinyang Palace, crossing the stone bridge over the Fen River, and then turning into several old alleys selling ironware.

The bellows were whirring in the alley, and sparks flew out from behind the blacksmith's shop curtain, bounced twice on the ground, and went out.

Di Renjie didn't talk much, but occasionally he would stop and point to a place, such as "This is where Emperor Gaozu swore an oath to his troops," or "The old site where Emperor Taizong stayed during his northern expedition."

Zhang Rui followed him quietly without asking any questions.

Taiyuan is Di Renjie's hometown, or rather, his root.

Di Renjie didn't say these words aloud. He only stopped under an old locust tree as he walked through an old alley. He looked up at the tree crown and then down at the roots. After a long time, he continued walking.

When he passed the south entrance of Liuxiang, Di Renjie stopped to rest on the side of the street.

An old man with a cane walked by, suddenly stopped, tilted his head and sized up Judge Di for a long time, his cane tapping on the ground before he spoke hesitantly, "May I ask... are you Judge Di?"

Judge Di turned around, and the old man squinted at him again, then suddenly widened his eyes: "His eyebrows and eyes are similar, even his gait is similar! It really is Judge Di!"

"It's me, old man, do you still remember me?"

The old man quickly rested his cane against his waist, clasped his hands in a fist, and bent down: "How could I not remember! Back when you were the judge in Bingzhou, it was you who adjudicated my son's case. If it weren't for your wise investigation, my son would have lost his life. So many years have passed, and your hair has turned white."

"No need for such formalities, sir."

Di Renjie reached out and gently supported the old man's arm.

The next day, the sky was overcast.

Di Renjie changed into his most formal court attire—a scarlet robe with wide sleeves, a gold belt, black leather boots, and a Jinxian crown on his head.

Di Chun spent a long time tidying up, straightening the hairpin on the crown again and again, and smoothing out the creases on the cuffs one by one.

Judge Di stood there and let him do as he pleased, his usual gentleness gone, replaced by solemnity.

The imperial ancestral temple is located in the northwest of Taiyuan City. The ceremonial guards are already lined up outside the gate, and the banners are flapping in the morning breeze.

The sacrificial text was a pre-prepared official document, delivered on behalf of the emperor to comfort the ancestors. The entire process took about half an hour.

Di Renjie performed the three kneelings and nine kowtows according to etiquette, his robe sleeves spreading out and then gathering on the floor tiles, gathering and spreading out again.

After the ceremony, the governor invited Di Renjie to a side hall for tea and exchanged some pleasantries.

After three rounds of tea, Di Gong took his leave.

It was already evening when they returned to the old house. Di Renjie changed into his casual clothes and sat on the chair for a long time, neither reading nor writing.

Sparrows chirped and chattered under the eaves for a while outside the window, then flew away, and the courtyard was once again enveloped in a quiet twilight.

Zhang Rui poured him a bowl of water and placed it on the table to cool.

"Connecting to the secluded place".

"exist."

"Come with me somewhere again tomorrow."

"it is good."

Di Renjie did not specify the location, nor did Zhang Rui ask.

The next morning, the carriage left the old house and headed west of the city, stopping in front of a courtyard with gray walls and black tiles.

An old plaque hangs above the doorway, its paint faded. Although the paint on the four characters "Di Clan Ancestral Hall" has peeled off, the basic structure remains.

The courtyard gate was ajar, and the stone steps on the threshold were worn smooth by the wear.

The courtyard was small, paved with blue bricks. Several rows of memorial tablets were placed in the main hall, the candlelight was bright, and the smoke from cigarettes lingered between the beams and pillars. The air was filled with the scent of sandalwood and old wood.

Judge Di stood outside the door for a moment, straightened his clothes, stepped over the threshold, and knelt down on the prayer mat.

He kowtowed three times, each kowtow slow and steady, his robe sleeves spreading out and then gathering on the floor tiles.

I wrote the eulogy last night under the oil lamp. I messed up two drafts, and I kept writing the third draft until the candle wax tears piled up into a small mountain before I stopped.

Zhang Rui knelt behind him and kowtowed three times as well.

Li Yuanfang and Di Jinghui knelt further back, heads bowed and silent.

The ancestral hall was very quiet, with only the sound of Judge Di reading the eulogy.

His voice was soft and he read slowly, as if he were having a casual chat with his ancestors.