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