The letter arrived six weeks after Ren left for the eastern provinces.
It was three pages long, written in his precise official hand, which he apparently deployed even for personal correspondence. The seal was not the Ministry of Records seal — it was a small round stamp with what appeared to be a fish on it, which I suspected was the emblem of his nephew's paper-making business.
I read it at breakfast. Kaien read it over my shoulder.
The first page was mostly a detailed account of the journey. Roads, inns, the quality of the tea available at various stopping points along the eastern road. Ren had opinions about tea at a level of specificity that I was finding increasingly impressive.
The second page was about the paper-making business. It was, as advertised, very boring and very stable. His nephew was apparently delighted to have him. The business was doing well. No one had attempted any political machinations in the vicinity.
"He sounds almost cheerful," Kaien said.
