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Author: Guede Mazaka
Rating: G
Pairing: None. Nameless pov.
Feedback: Good lines, ugly ones, etc.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Notes: Shortly after the king of Ch’in finally reunited China, his prime minister Li Ssu expanded existing Ch’in edicts aimed at suppressing dissent to cover the whole country. Among them were orders to burn all books not dealing with practical knowledge, and orders setting families to spy on each other. These ideas were in accordance with the dominant philosophical school in Ch’in, Legalism.
Summary: There still is talk.
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There is still talk. There will always be talk, the prefect thinks. Men have tongues and will use them, and not even the army of Ch’in has enough hands to cut out all of them. Perhaps the chatter slows and silences as he passes, robes rustling away and grim faces shading themselves from the accusation he embodies, but he knows nevertheless that it will soon rise behind his back. Though neighbor watches neighbor, so now it is safer to speak to strangers than to family.
Li Ssu would have it differently, and sweep the land clean of all words except those written in the vermilion ink of the king or the black of dull practicality.
It was a scroll that gave the prefect the secret of soaring, the lightness of a feather in landing on water. But in his hands now, the strips of bamboo are heavy as lead, and the air smells faintly of smoke.
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