The parliament grounds were lit sparingly. Lanterns hung low beneath the eaves, casting light downward rather than outward. The courtyard itself was wide and empty, paved in pale stone that left little cover.
Decorative planters sat at measured distances, each trimmed back so nothing taller than a knee remained.
This was a deliberate choice, as he recalled his conversation with his other contact Cheng Rong a few hours back
During his surveillance operation, Cheng Rong had approached the closed doors lining the hall. "I advise serious caution going forward," he said. "Some of the men in that room have developed an ugly reputation of dispatching nuisances"
"I have no intention of interacting with them directly" Li Wei replied. "My only motive here is to discover the place were these leeches keep their most sensitive information."
Another round of voices rose from behind the doors, followed by muted laughter that rang hollow even at a distance. ~murmur~
