Bluebird Messenger

Over the next two days, Chang'an remained outwardly bustling and prosperous, but the undercurrents never ceased.

The Dali Temple significantly increased patrols at all city gates and market areas, especially those involving the trade of ancient books, paintings, and medicinal herbs. Di Renjie publicly announced that Dr. Wang had "suddenly died from an acute illness," temporarily suppressing panic, but those in the know understood that this was merely a stopgap measure.

Inside Yao Tian's residence, everything was as usual. Yi Xing spent most of his time resting in the warm pavilion, studying chess scores, occasionally being carried by Pei Qin Hu to the ginkgo tree in the courtyard for some fresh air. The moon-white brocade outer robe was carefully put away, serving as a silent warning.

Pei Qinhu left early and returned late every day, bringing back all sorts of fragmented news: a foreign merchant selling exotic medicines had recently arrived in the West Market, and his whereabouts were shrouded in mystery; several unfamiliar faces were inquiring about secrets of the old dynasty near the South Gate; there were even rumors that a green light like will-o'-the-wisps had been seen at night in the abandoned Yongxiang area... The news was chaotic and difficult to distinguish between true and false, requiring careful filtering.

Gongsun Li, amidst the revelry and singing in the music hall, caught glimpses of the guests' drunken whispers. She vaguely overheard officials mentioning that Dr. Wang seemed to have had close ties with an official in charge of machinery construction in the Ministry of Works, and others discussing that an envoy from Wu was about to arrive in Chang'an.

Yang Yuhuan thoroughly examined the medical texts at hand and confirmed that the "Soul-Separating Grass" was indeed not produced in the Central Plains. Its properties were similar to those of poisonous herbs that grew in the miasma-ridden Lingnan region or on certain islands beyond the East China Sea. She secretly passed this discovery on to Ming Shiyin.

Ming Shiyin returned to Yaotian the day after the palace banquet. He didn't say much about what would happen in the palace, only instructing everyone to act according to Yi Xing's plan, as if everything was under control. His return reassured everyone.

Under Yang Yuhuan's meticulous care, Yi Xing's body slowly recovered. Although he was still prone to fatigue, his complexion was no longer as frightening. He spent most of his time deducing the chess game, sometimes focusing on the black and white pieces on the stone board, and sometimes on the invisible clues in his mind. He gradually incorporated the news brought back by Pei Qinhu and Gongsun Li, as well as Yang Yuhuan's discoveries, into his deductions, attempting to piece together the outline of the person behind the scenes.

That afternoon, Yi Xing sat by the window, deep in thought, contemplating a game of chess before him. Sunlight streamed through the windowpane, casting a pale golden hue on his pale profile and jet-black hair. Gongsun Li entered carrying a dish of freshly made almond milk, and seeing his focused expression, she slowed her pace.

"Have you figured it out yet?" She gently placed the porcelain dish next to the chessboard.

Yi Xing, holding a black chess piece, his gaze still fixed on the board, said softly, "The clues are still too scattered, like a pile of loose sand. The murderer is very cautious, leaving almost no trace pointing back to themselves. It seems the perpetrator has some understanding of Yaotian, is proficient in toxicology and mechanical arts (judging from the perfectly replicated fabric and the method of poisoning), and is likely not a local force from Chang'an. Their target is probably the secret hidden within the *Tian Yuan Ce*..."

He paused, then placed a black piece in a corner of the board: "But there's something strange about it."

"What?"

“The other party seems to know me very well.” Yi Xing raised his eyes and looked at Gongsun Li, his eyes filled with a hint of confusion. “Whether it’s the counterfeiting of the fabric or choosing to make trouble at the palace banquet and pointing the finger at me, who almost never appears in public... this doesn’t seem like a general understanding of Yao Tian, ​​but more like... a targeted plan.”

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Li's rabbit ears twitched slightly, and her expression turned serious: "You mean..."

Just then, a fluttering sound of wings came from outside the window. A small, exotic bird, entirely green with a pale gold beak and claws, as if carved from jade, landed lightly on the windowsill, tilting its head and curiously looking around the room with its beady black eyes.

This bird is not a common species in Chang'an; its magnificent and elegant appearance makes it clear at a glance that it is extraordinary.

Yi Xing and Gongsun Li exchanged a glance, both seeing the surprise in each other's eyes.

The bluebird hopped around a few times, letting out a few clear and melodious chirps, showing no fear of people at all. A bamboo tube, thinner than a little finger, seemed to be tied to its slender legs.

Gongsun Li tentatively reached out her hand, and the bluebird tilted its head to look at her. It actually jumped onto her fingertip and gently pecked at the small bamboo tube with its beak.

Gongsun Li carefully untied the bamboo tube, and the bluebird immediately flapped its wings and flew up, circling once inside the room before flying away through the window and disappearing into the clear autumn sky.

“This is…” Gongsun Li held the small bamboo tube in her hand and looked at Yi Xing.

Yi Xing's heart stirred, and he vaguely guessed something. He took the bamboo tube, gently twisted it open, and poured out a roll of extremely thin white silk.

Unfold the white silk, and you'll find only one line of elegant, flowing handwriting, yet imbued with a sense of noble character:

"Three days from now, at the hour of Wei (1-3 PM), by the Qujiang Pool, I look forward to playing a game of chess with the young master Yixing and making friends through chess. — Wu, Zhou Yujin"

At the end of the signature, there is a small, vermilion private seal with an elegant and antique script.

Zhou Yu?

Yi Xing held the seemingly weightless white silk scroll, yet his heart was filled with turmoil. The envoy from Wu had actually come to him directly in this way?