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墨書 Inktalez
As the hour grew late, a dimly lit courtyard in the southern part of the city came into view. Liu Ying followed the guidance of White Dove to this secluded place. Just as he was about to knock on the door, Zhao Mingyuan emerged from the shadows. "Master Liu, have you encountered trouble?"
"How did Lord Zhao know I would come?" Liu Ying asked in surprise.
"Because he not only informed you," a gentle voice chimed in as Su Jinzhi stepped out from behind the door. "Come in and let's talk."
Inside, the flickering candlelight revealed Xu Yuan waiting in the inner chamber. Upon seeing Liu Ying safe and sound, his tense expression finally relaxed. "Did you run into Chu Yuyan and her group?"
"How did you know?" Liu Ying asked.
"Because this is a trap," Zhao Mingyuan said solemnly. "They deliberately spread the word that they were looking for you at the library, just to..."
"To force me to reveal myself," Xu Yuan interjected. "If we hadn't received advance notice, we would have likely fallen into their scheme tonight."
Liu Ying finally understood. "So that's why you had White Dove lead me here?"
"Not just that." Su Jinzhi took out a sealed letter from his sleeve. "The Imperial Medical Bureau received news today that Lord Zhou has traced the last piece of the Bronze Fragment."
"Where is it?" everyone asked simultaneously.
"At Anyuan Marquis Manor," Su Jinzhi replied gravely. "Moreover, they plan to act on Qixi night..."
Before he could finish, an owl's hoot suddenly echoed from outside. Zhao Mingyuan's expression changed. "Someone is coming!"
Xu Yuan quickly extinguished the candle and shielded Liu Ying behind him. In the darkness, she felt his hand tightly gripping hers.
As footsteps approached, a voice called out, "It's me!"
Everyone let out a sigh of relief as Luo Yunzhi hurried in, looking anxious. "It's bad! The Empress just informed me that Lord Zhou has submitted a memorial to the Emperor, stating that on Qixi night..."
"They plan to raid Qintian Observatory on Qixi night?" Su Jinzhi picked up where Luo Yunzhi left off.
"Not just that," Luo Yunzhi lowered his voice. "They intend to use this opportunity to arrest all officials involved in the calculations, claiming they want to thoroughly investigate the case from twenty years ago."
The room fell silent. After a long pause, Xu Yuan finally spoke up. "It seems we can’t wait any longer."
"What do you plan to do?" Liu Ying turned to him.
"We must find that last piece of the fragment before Qixi," Xu Yuan said firmly. "But before that..." He looked at Su Jinzhi. "I need Lord Su's help."
Su Jinzhi nodded. "What do you need?"
"Please find a way to deliver this to the Empress." Xu Yuan took out a bundle from his robe. "If the timing is right, she will know what to do."
Liu Ying recognized that it was indeed the bundle given to her by Yan Lao. Just as she was about to speak, Luo Yunzhi took something out from her sleeve. "This is for you. It was entrusted to me by Her Majesty the Empress."
Under the moonlight, it was a jade pendant radiating a faint blue glow, almost identical in style to the one Xu Yuan had given to Liu Ying.
"What is this...?" Xu Yuan's expression changed suddenly.
"The Empress said that on the Qixi night twenty years ago, she saw an old man give this jade pendant to your father," Luo Yunzhi said softly. "She has kept it ever since, waiting for the day..."
Before she could finish her sentence, a sudden flurry of urgent calls came from outside. Zhao Mingyuan said, "It's almost dawn; you all should leave now."
Before they departed, Xu Yuan pulled Liu Ying aside. "Tomorrow at noon, wait for me at Taibai Pavilion. Remember to bring your grandfather's bronze mirror."
"But..." Liu Ying wanted to say something more but was gently embraced by him.
"Trust me," he whispered in her ear. "Everything will be alright."
In the night, a White Dove flew silently by, and the jade pendant glimmered slightly under the moonlight, as if foretelling something. In the distance, the mysterious sound of a Dizi could be faintly heard.
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