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The next day at dawn, the army had crossed the stone bridge. Xu Yuan was inspecting the wounded when he suddenly heard that a secret letter had arrived from the capital.
The scout presented a letter bearing the seal of the Imperial Medical Institute. As Xu Yuan unfolded it, his brow furrowed. "Liu Ying, come take a look."
Liu Ying took the letter and recognized Su Jinzhi's handwriting:
"The Northern Frontier is troubled; please be cautious. There are those in court secretly communicating with the south, likely to be internal collaborators. Seven days ago, the Xu family held a clandestine meeting with envoys from the south. Furthermore, rumors suggest that there will be movements at Tianshi Market Camp Howl..."
" Tianshi Market Camp Howl?" Liu Ying exclaimed, recalling the characters that had appeared on the Bronze Mirror yesterday.
"It seems this ambush was not a coincidence," Xu Yuan said, his gaze sharpening. "Why has the Xu family suddenly allied with the south?"
Just then, A Fu rushed in. "Miss, the elder Zhang we met at the teahouse has arrived; he said he came specifically to deliver medicine to you."
Liu Ying exchanged glances with Xu Yuan. "Please ask him to come to the back tent."
Inside the tent, Su Jinzhi, dressed in a blue robe, was organizing a medicine box. Upon seeing Liu Ying enter, he smiled gently. "You must be exhausted from your journey."
"Jinzhi, why did you come in person?" Liu Ying asked in surprise.
"I couldn't rest easy," Su Jinzhi replied as he took out a jade vial. "This is a special calming pill I've prepared; it can relieve fatigue." He reached out to check her pulse but noticed she instinctively flinched away.
The atmosphere suddenly became awkward.
"Thank you, Imperial Physician Su," Xu Yuan interjected at an opportune moment. "Are there any other news from the capital?"
Su Jinzhi withdrew his hand, his expression slightly dimming. "There is indeed important news to share. The Xu Family Miss fell seriously ill suddenly a few days ago; after consultation by the Imperial Medical Institute, it was discovered she had been poisoned with Fragrant Cold Powder."
" Fragrant Cold Powder?" Liu Ying gasped. "Isn't that…"
"Exactly," Su Jinzhi said solemnly. "It was used twenty years ago during the Great Fire to incapacitate servants in the manor." He continued, "Moreover, it has been found that the person who poisoned her is likely connected to the Southern Forces."
Xu Yuan's eyes turned cold. "So you came specifically to warn us."
"Not just that," Su Jinzhi lowered his voice. "I discovered that similar poison has also appeared at Tianshi Market Camp Howl. And…" He hesitated.
"Jinzhi, feel free to speak openly."
"After you left that night, I found a damaged Astronomical Notebook in the library of Qintian Observatory," Su Jinzhi revealed. "It contained a strange prophecy stating: 'When Tianshiying Xiao and Zi Wei move, every twenty years marks a cycle.'"
Liu Ying's heart trembled at this revelation. "This prophecy…"
"More importantly," Su Jinzhi glanced at Xu Yuan, "the handwriting in the Notebook is identical to Master Xu's astronomical records from years ago."
Suddenly, there was a rustling sound outside the tent. Xu Yuan swiftly lifted the curtain to look out but only saw wind and snow swirling with fallen leaves passing by.
"Thank you, Imperial Physician Su, for coming all this way to inform us," Xu Yuan said as he turned. "Could you please elaborate on the contents of that notebook?"
Su Jinzhi shook his head. "Unfortunately, that page of the scroll vanished overnight."
Liu Ying pondered for a moment. "The Great Fire twenty years ago, the unusual activity at Tianshi Market Camp Howl, and the poison from the Xu family—could these be connected?"
"Liu Ying..." Su Jinzhi hesitated, a flicker of concern crossing his eyes. "You need to be careful. Some truths are perhaps better left unknown."
"Jinzhi, is there something you're not telling us?"
"I..." Su Jinzhi glanced at Xu Yuan and sighed. "I just don't want you to fall into danger. Over the years, watching you focus on astronomy and remain independent and strong, I have always..."
Before he could finish, urgent hoofbeats echoed from outside. A scout rushed in. "My lord! There's unusual activity in the direction of Tianshi Market Camp Howl; it seems someone is raiding the border villagers!"
Xu Yuan immediately stood up. "Prepare the horses!"
"I'm going too," Liu Ying said.
"No!" Both Su Jinzhi and Xu Yuan spoke simultaneously, exchanging a glance.
But Liu Ying had already donned her cloak. "The disturbances at Tianshi Market Camp Howl may be related to that prophecy. I must go."
The cold wind howled outside, swirling with scattered snowflakes. Su Jinzhi watched Liu Ying's retreating figure, filled with complex emotions. He knew that from the moment she chose to accompany Xu Yuan northward, everything had been set in motion.
Yet, he still came. Because there were some words and matters he had to tell her in person...
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