Work Text:
Among the most prized possessions of Emperor Jing is a silver bell. It is a curious object: small in size, low in value and modest in craftsmanship. It is attached to a cord with a frayed end as if it was forcibly removed from its original operating place.
The bell is part of a peculiar collection of seemingly unrelated items such as a well-used bow and a remarkably large pearl.
Once asked about the bell's significance The Emperor merely replied: “A chime of it will summon the most important person.”
But he never rings it, and no one ever appears.