Sparks that spread across the prairie

News of Baili Hongyuan's departure from the capital was strictly suppressed, but undercurrents within the capital grew increasingly turbulent. The Empress Dowager, citing illness, excused all the ladies from attending her morning and evening visits. The Cining Palace was a shady place; the lights in the Yangxin Palace were constantly on. Imperial guard patrols increased several times in frequency, and the air was thick with the oppression of impending storms.

Qin Yousi sat in the back hall of the clinic, several secret letters spread out before her. The flickering candlelight illuminated her slightly pale face. The residual effects of the blood-draining poison lingered, and the exhaustion of days had left her chest feeling tight.

Yu Huan came in with some soothing tea and said worriedly, "Miss, it's getting late. You should rest. The prince has only been gone for two days. He would be very sad if you were exhausted."

Qin Yousi rubbed her brows and forced a smile. "I'm fine." She pointed at the letter and said, "I was just wondering what other powers Master has that I can use."

She picked up her pen and quickly wrote two letters.

The first letter was to Taoist Master Xiwei of Liuquan Monastery. Although her master had lost all his martial arts skills, Liuquan Monastery, as a place of serene cultivation, maintained a network of information, particularly with temples across the country and even with some renowned martial artists. She didn't elaborate on the crisis in the capital, simply asking her master to monitor developments in the capital and to contact several veterans of the martial arts world with connections to the Qin or Yin families, in case of emergency. She knew well that sometimes, tactics outside the "rules" of the martial arts world could be incredibly effective.

The second letter was addressed to Fuying and Liuguang of the Oujiang Boat Gang. The boat gang's disciples were spread across the waterways and docks, well-informed and well-mannered. She asked Fuying to dispatch a group of absolutely reliable and agile members to infiltrate the capital. They wouldn't have to participate in the core fighting, but would only be responsible for delivering messages at critical moments and, in the worst-case scenario, facilitating the evacuation of key personnel. Simultaneously, they were to utilize the boat gang's trade routes to closely monitor movements from the Northern Liang border troops and ensure smooth communication with Baili Hongyuan.

As soon as the letter was delivered, Tianying appeared silently outside the door. He was now Qin Yousi's most useful guard, and his status as Duan Zheng's old subordinate made him particularly familiar with the various social circles in the capital.

"Miss, there are unusual movements at the Ye Mansion," Tianying whispered. "Mrs. Ye, Gu, has been sending people back to her family frequently today. It seems she wants to use the Gu family's connections to transfer the seventh son, Ye Jiashu, from the Huangzhou Navy back to the capital."

Qin Yousi's eyes narrowed. Ye Zhenglun was in mourning, but his wife's family, the Gu family, still held significant influence. Ye Jiashu had served ably under the Pingtung Prince, and transferring him back to the capital at this moment might have been because Ye Zhenglun sensed danger and wanted to place his son in the relative safety of the capital, or perhaps... he had other motives? After all, Ye Zhenglun hated the Marquis of Xichang to the core, yet he remained reverent toward imperial power, making his stance unpredictable.

"Understood. Keep watching, especially if the Gu family has any connections with the palace," Qin Yousi instructed. Ye Jiashu and Liu Ying had a close relationship, and if they could win him over, he might be a help, but it was not advisable to alert them right now.

After dealing with all this, a violent coughing fit suddenly hit Qin Yousi. He covered his mouth with his sleeve, bent over due to coughing, and a fishy and sweet taste surged in his throat.

"Girl!" Yu Huan exclaimed and hurried forward to support her.

Qin Yousi waved her hand, spreading her sleeves. A glare of bright red dimmed her eyes. The withering blood poison... after all, it was a sword hanging over her head. Master Xiwei had only brought back the prescription. Formulating the antidote would require time and several rare herbs, the most important of which was the "Red Flame Vermillion Fruit," rumored to grow only in the extremely dangerous terrain of Nanhua Mountain. The Nine Sects might have some in stock, but given the delicate relationship between them, it was difficult to speak up.

"I'm fine, it's just an old ailment." She suppressed her discomfort and gave Yu Huan a soothing smile, "Go call Wu Jun, I have something to tell you."

Wu Jun arrived soon. This honest man is now in charge of the staff of Siding Construction Workshop in the capital. On the surface, he is a craftsman, but secretly he is a force that cannot be underestimated.

"Brother Wu, how is the renovation progress of the Prince's Mansion?" Qin Yousi asked.

"Miss, the main structure has been basically completed, and only the garden landscape is still being maintained." Wu Jun replied respectfully.

"Okay." Qin Yousi nodded. "Starting tomorrow, you will select a group of absolutely trustworthy masters and apprentices, and have them stationed in the Prince's Mansion under the pretext of rushing the work. At the same time, quietly place the batch of 'building materials' we brought in via the Oujiang River boat gang."

That batch of "building materials" was actually cleverly disguised weapons and city defense equipment, transferred through secret channels at Bailu Terrace before Baili Hongyuan left his post as Supervisory Office. The Prince's Mansion was relatively isolated and sturdy, providing a stronghold that could be used for both attack and defense if the capital truly descended into chaos.

Wu Jun's expression was startled, and he immediately understood Qin Yousi's intention. He said solemnly, "Don't worry, young lady. Wu Jun knows the seriousness of this matter!"

The night deepened. Qin Yousi stood alone by the window, gazing at the pitch-black sky. The capital was like a vast chessboard, the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, Prince Bao, and various factions all acting as players. She and the traveling Baili Hongyuan were also the controlling figures. She mobilized every available force from her school, the Jianghu, her former subordinates, and the trade routes, like placing seemingly scattered yet secretly connected pieces on the board.

The reputation of her master's school, the loyalty of the underworld, the financial resources of the trade routes, the connections of old subordinates, and even a palace that has not yet been occupied... These seemingly insignificant forces in daily life were connected together by her bit by bit at this moment, forming a dense and tenacious network.

She knew that the poison in her body, like the crisis in the capital, would erupt completely at any time. But until then, she had to hold on, defending this position for him and for all those who trusted her.

"Hongyuan," she whispered silently to the north, "I'm here in the capital, so you can rest assured. I only hope your journey goes smoothly and you return soon."

Hundreds of miles away, Baili Hongyuan, who was riding a horse at full speed, seemed to have sensed something. He reined in his horse and looked back towards the capital. He saw only the dark night sky, with only the Big Dipper standing bright and firm, guiding the way.