After the Sino-French War of 1883-1885, the Ch’ing court decided to elevate Taiwan from a prefecture (fu) of Fukien Province to a province. Taiwan Province had three fu and one special prefecture (chih-li-chou).

Proceed, friend Nicolas, and let us dispatch; for, it grows late.

There were another five cases reported overnight.

He remembered the way the girl had stared at him, as blood had coursed down her face from the broken glass of his arrival. A pretty face, clear-eyed, smooth-cheeked; she would be easy to find. She would be amusing as well. She would tell him if she had secretted the talisman away. She would scream it to him. After that, he was sure of one thing. The last member of the Gifter’s family had to be silenced.