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As dusk settled, a faint trace of twilight lingered on the horizon, like a brush dipped in water, embellishing the corners of the imperial city. Liu Ying walked alone along a narrow path in the secluded part of the palace. With the Qixi Festival approaching and the weight of the calculations from the Qintian Observatory pressing on her mind, coupled with the secret of the two fragments of the Bronze Mirror, she felt compelled to find a quiet place to ponder.
Turning around a palace wall, she arrived at a remote corner. Few ventured here, accompanied only by a few ancient trees and stone steps. Just as she was about to find a peaceful spot to sit down, she noticed a figure sitting on the stone steps ahead. The person had disheveled hair and untidy clothes—it was Xu Yuan. Today, he still appeared somewhat mad, mumbling to himself as he gazed at the sky.
Liu Ying approached quietly, her heart stirred by his words. "The stars are speaking! They say a benefactor will visit tonight; it seems they were right!" she softly called out, "Brother Yuan." The title made her feel slightly bashful yet oddly familiar, as if she had called him that long ago.
Xu Yuan turned his head, a flicker of warmth crossing his eyes before he quickly reverted to his eccentric demeanor. "Ah, is that not Master Liu from the Qintian Observatory? The stars said you would come tonight; I’ve been waiting for you!"
Liu Ying glanced around to ensure no one was following before lowering her voice to warn him, "Lord Zhou's men are still watching from the shadows; be cautious."
"It matters not." Xu Yuan stood up and performed an exaggerated bow. "Who would take a madman's words seriously?" He picked up a twig from the ground and began drawing on the stone steps with practiced ease. As he moved his hand fluidly, a Star Chart emerged vividly on the stone.
Liu Ying crouched down to examine the Star Chart closely. The lines were smooth and powerful, reminiscent of the astronomical diagrams left by Xu Shu in ancient texts.
"Look," he said while drawing, "the changes in the Purple Forbidden Enclosure are strikingly similar to those from twenty years ago." He lifted his head to look at Liu Ying. "But when my father observed this omen back then, he had yet to grasp its deeper meaning."
Liu Ying studied the Star Chart intently. "Are you saying this celestial phenomenon can help us find that last fragment?"
"Not just that." Xu Yuan's gaze was intense. "On Qixi night, Tai Bai shines bright while Zi Wei dims. This is not merely an omen; it is…"
Before he could finish his thought, footsteps suddenly echoed from afar. Xu Yuan quickly erased the Star Chart and stood up, reverting to his madcap persona as he laughed loudly. "The stars are speaking! They say tonight the moon wears a crooked hat—how amusing!"
"Stop! Who goes there?" The patrolling guards approached with lanterns in hand. Seeing Xu Yuan in such a state made them frown.
Just as Liu Ying was about to explain, Xu Yuan staggered forward cheerfully. "It's me! Just your local madman! The stars just spoke to me and said they want to treat me to some wine…"
The guards dismissed him impatiently with a wave of their hands. "Quit your nonsense and get lost!"
Once the guards moved away, Xu Yuan's figure vanished into the shadows. Yet Liu Ying still caught a barely audible whisper: "Tomorrow at Mao hour, Wangyue Tower. Remember to bring those two fragments."
As night deepened, a new moon quietly rose in the sky. Liu Ying looked up and spotted Venus twinkling brightly. At that moment, a gentle breeze swept by, carrying with it an ethereal sound of Dizi music. The melody was distant and lingering, as if recounting some ancient secret.
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