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The name "Yu Ming" sent a shock through Liu Ying's heart; it was a friend of her grandfather whom he often mentioned, said to have been a high-ranking official in the court back in the day.
In a courtyard outside Chaoyang Gate, an elderly man with white hair was drinking alone under the moonlight. He was Mr. Yu Ming, the former Minister of Revenue and the last visitor to the Xu Mansion.
"Old sir," Liu Ying greeted him respectfully.
"You're here?" Mr. Yu Ming did not turn his head. "Your grandfather said before he passed that one day someone would come to inquire about this past. I just didn't expect it would be you."
"The injustice of the Xu Family..."
"It is not an injustice," Mr. Yu Ming interrupted her. "It was a meticulously planned conspiracy."
He took out an old ledger from his sleeve. "This is a confidential document from the Ministry of Revenue. Xu Shu discovered some irregularities within it and traced an unknown military fund's whereabouts. That money ultimately ended up in the pockets of the Zhou family, who were then in power."
"The Zhou family?" Liu Ying suddenly understood. "So that's why Lord Zhou..."
"That's not all," Mr. Yu Ming sighed. "Back then, the Anyuan Marquis had a good relationship with Xu Shu and secretly sent someone to investigate upon learning of this matter. Little did they know..."
"Little did they know they uncovered an even bigger secret," Xu Yuan's voice suddenly rang out as he stepped out from the shadows and bowed deeply to Mr. Yu Ming. "I am Xu Yuan, paying my respects to you, old sir."
"Good boy," Mr. Yu Ming said with a hint of affection in his eyes. "That you survived is a blessing from heaven."
"My father discovered back then," Xu Yuan said solemnly, "that the military funds were not only embezzled but also used to support the northern rebels. This involved a vast treasonous organization."
"So they wanted to silence everyone," Mr. Yu Ming nodded. "But they never expected that Xu Shu had already left behind evidence."
As he spoke, he took out a piece of bronze mirror from beneath the inkstone. "This was entrusted to me by the Anyuan Marquis before his death. He said that if one day the heavens were to repeat themselves, a fated person would come to retrieve it."
Liu Ying took the lens and fitted it with the two pieces she held in her hands. Under the moonlight, the three mirror pieces aligned perfectly!
"What about the last piece?" Xu Yuan asked.
"It is in the hands of Her Majesty," Mr. Yu Ming replied. "Back when she was still the daughter of the Anyuan Marquis, she witnessed her father hand over this lens to Xu Shu. Because of this, she has been secretly protecting you all these years."
Liu Ying suddenly realized, "No wonder Her Majesty has been so concerned about this prophecy."
"Indeed," Mr. Yu Ming stood up. "Now that the Zhou family has fallen, and the Xu family has revealed its true colors, it’s up to you now."
He gazed at the sky: "Tomorrow is Qixi; Tai Bai will be high in the sky, and a guest star will enter the Purple Forbidden Enclosure. This is heaven's will..."
"Old sir," Xu Yuan bowed again, "did my father leave any other words behind?"
"He did." Mr. Yu Ming took out a letter from his bosom. "He said that while truth is important, what matters more than truth are those who are alive."
Xu Yuan took the letter, his hands trembling slightly.
"Child," Mr. Yu Ming said kindly as he looked at him, "the thing your father worries about the most is your lifelong affair. Now..." He cast a meaningful glance at Liu Ying.
Liu Ying's cheeks flushed as she recalled that night when he had handed her a glass of water. At this moment, the morning star had already risen in the sky, reminiscent of the starlight from that night long ago.
"It's getting late," Mr. Yu Ming continued. "Tomorrow is Qixi, and you both have something more important to do."
The two bid farewell and left. As they walked through the night, Xu Yuan suddenly stopped. "Liu Ying, after tomorrow, I have something to tell you."
"What is it?"
"I'll tell you when the truth is revealed." He looked at her gently. "And thank you for that bowl of water you handed me back then."
Liu Ying's heart trembled, and just as she was about to speak, she suddenly saw a streak of light cross the sky. What did this signify? She didn't know, but she understood that tomorrow's celestial events would surely unveil all mysteries.
Meanwhile, deep within the palace, an edict was being secretly drafted that would alter the fates of many.
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