Chapter 48: Survival from a desperate situation, full of doubts

The masked man's carriage was much steadier than the previous one. It was covered in soft brocade cushions and stocked with wound medicine and warm water. Xie Heng leaned against the corner, his arm wound freshly bandaged, the gauze now oozing with faint red blood. His face was as pale as paper, but he stared intently at the carriage door, his eyes full of vigilance.

Yun Zhi sat across from him, clutching the plum blossom hairpin, her fingertips white from the strain. The wind outside the carriage gradually died down, evidently leaving the suburbs for a more secluded location. Finally, she couldn't help but speak, her voice trembling, "Who exactly is this sir? And who is this 'old friend'? If you hadn't arrived in time, Brother Xie and I would have..."

The masked man sat beside the coachman. Upon hearing the question, he simply turned around and said calmly, "Madam Yun, there's no need to ask any more questions. I was simply entrusted with protecting you. As for my identity, you'll know when the time comes."

"Entrusted by someone?" Xie Heng suddenly interrupted, his tone tinged with suspicion. "Was it General Yun's former subordinates who entrusted him, or... someone else? Those men in black just now used moves that sounded very much like the secret guards of Prince Duan's mansion. Do you know why they said 'the prince has ordered it'?"

Those words were like a stone dropped into calm waters, and Yun Zhi's heart suddenly tightened. She stared at the masked man, awaiting his answer—had Xiao Jin actually issued the killing order? If not, who was using his name to do it? If so, why was he so cruel?

The masked man was silent for a moment before he slowly spoke, "The secret guards of Prince Duan's mansion have fixed codes and moves. Those people just now were just imitating the basics and were not real secret guards. As for 'the prince has an order', it's most likely a deliberate frame-up, someone wants to use the prince's name to get rid of you."

"Framed?" Yun Zhi frowned. "Who could it be? Princess Lin Wanru? Or... Prime Minister Shen?"

"It's still uncertain at this point," the masked man said calmly, "but one thing is certain: someone doesn't want you to leave the capital alive, and they certainly don't want you to investigate the Yun family case."

"Old case?" Yun Zhi suddenly looked up, a glint in her eyes. "Do you know my father's old case?"

The masked man didn't answer directly, only saying, "An old friend has been following this matter closely and has been secretly investigating it. The most important thing for you to do now is to take care of your health. We can discuss other matters after you are safe."

The carriage fell silent again. Yun Zhi watched the shadows of the trees rapidly receding outside the window, her mind a tangle of questions—who was this "old friend"? Why was he interested in her father's old case? Why was he protecting her? And were those men in black really framing Xiao Jin?

She recalled Xiao Jin's eyes before he left the capital, and his words, "Keep a close eye on her, don't let her die." Suddenly, a wavering feeling welled up in her heart. Perhaps, he truly hadn't issued the killing order? But if it wasn't him, who else would have the audacity to act in the name of Prince Duan?

"Don't think about it," Xie Heng noticed her dilemma and gently advised, "No matter who wants to harm us, at least we are safe for now. Once we get there, we can make a long-term plan."

Yun Zhi nodded, but she wasn't relieved. She touched the plum blossom hairpin in her bosom. The secret letter in the secret compartment was still there—it was the only clue her father had left, and her only hope of uncovering the truth. She couldn't just hide away like this. She had to find "Uncle Liu" as soon as possible and uncover the evidence mentioned in the secret letter.

After an unknown amount of time, the carriage gradually stopped. The masked man lifted the curtain, revealing a secluded valley. At the bottom of the valley sat an exquisite courtyard, patrolled by guards. It looked heavily guarded, yet also somewhat elegant.

"This is the villa arranged by an old friend. It's absolutely safe." The masked man jumped off the carriage and reached out to help Yun Zhi, but she subconsciously dodged him, so he had to withdraw his hand. "There are special female doctors and servants in the villa who will take care of you and Doctor Xie's daily life. If there is any follow-up news, I will report it in time."

Xie Heng was helped out of the car by Qingzhu. He looked at the layout of the villa and frowned: "This place is not far from the capital. If someone were to track us down, would it be..."

"Don't worry," the masked man said confidently, "There are three secret sentries outside the courtyard, and the surrounding valleys are all maze-like. Outsiders will have no way of finding the entrance. Unless the prince comes in person, no one can break in."

At the mention of "Prince," Yun Zhi's heart sank again. She looked at the gate of the villa and suddenly remembered something. She asked, "Could the 'old friend' you're talking about be one of my father's former generals? For example... Uncle Liu?"

The masked man paused slightly, then returned to normal and said calmly, "Madam Yun, there is no need to rush to know the answer. Just stay here and relax." After saying that, he gave a few instructions to the guards behind him, then jumped on his horse and quickly disappeared at the end of the mountain road.

Yun Zhi stood there, watching him go, her suspicions growing. This masked man clearly knew of "Uncle Liu"'s existence, yet refused to acknowledge it. It seemed this "old friend" must be related to her father's former subordinates.

"Miss, let's go in first. Doctor Xie's wound needs to be taken care of." Qingzhu supported Yunzhi and reminded her softly.

They entered the courtyard, where numerous osmanthus trees were planted. Though not in bloom, they already exuded a certain elegance. A female doctor in a green robe came forward and bowed respectfully, "Madam Yun, thank you, Imperial Physician. I've been ordered to take care of you two. Please come this way."

The doctor led them to the east wing, a spacious and bright room with complete furniture, clean clothes, and medicine. As soon as Xie Heng sat down, the doctor stepped forward to re-examine his wound, her brow furrowing ever tighter. "Doctor Xie, your wound is too deep and covered in dust. It needs to be cleaned again, which may be painful."

"It's okay," Xie Heng waved his hand, but his eyes fell on Yun Zhi, "Let's check on Aunt Yun first. She was previously poisoned by an aphrodisiac. Although she was suppressed with silver needles, she still needs treatment."

The female doctor responded, and after checking Yun Zhi's pulse, she nodded and said, "Mrs. Yun's body has mostly dissipated the medicinal properties, but her Qi and blood are still severely deficient. She needs to drink a few doses of Qi and blood replenishing soups and rest well."

While the doctor was preparing the medicine, Qingzhu helped Yunzhi sit by the window and said softly, "Miss, it does look safe here, and that masked man doesn't seem to have any ill intentions. Would you like to... relax and take good care of yourself?"

Yun Zhi looked at the osmanthus tree outside the window and shook her head gently: "I can't let it go. My father's old case has not been solved yet, and those who wanted to harm me have not been found. How can I rest in peace?" She paused, suddenly remembered something, stood up and walked to the corner of the room, and checked carefully.

"Miss, what are you looking for?" Qingzhu asked puzzledly.

"I'm looking for clues," Yun Zhi said as she searched. "The masked man said that an old friend of his was interested in the old case and might have left some clues in the other courtyard."

Xie Heng leaned against the bed, watching her busying around, his eyes filled with heartache: "Yunzhi, you've just been through danger, and your body hasn't recovered yet. Don't be so anxious. It won't be too late to check again once we've recovered."

Yun Zhi didn't stop moving, her fingers sliding across the books on the shelf until she came across a frayed copy of "The Art of War"—her father's favorite! She quickly pulled it out and flipped through a few pages. Suddenly, a slip of paper fell out, etched with a simple marking—the wolf-head mark commonly used by the old members of the Yun family!

"This is..." Yun Zhi picked up the note, her heartbeat quickening. Besides the wolf head mark, there was also a line of small words written on the note: "A ruined temple in the western suburbs, at midnight on the third day of the lunar month, Liu."

"On the third day of the new year?" Qingzhu came closer and whispered, "Today is the first day of the new year. Does that mean Uncle Liu will be waiting for us at the dilapidated temple in the western suburbs the night after tomorrow?"

Yun Zhi nodded, a flicker of excitement in her eyes—finally, there was news about Uncle Liu! As long as she could see Uncle Liu, she could get the evidence left by her father and find out the truth of what happened back then!

Xie Heng also came over to read the note, but frowned. "This news comes at a great time. Could it be a trap? After all, we just got rescued here and found this note. It's too strange."

Yun Zhi calmed down. Indeed, the note's appearance was too coincidental, as if someone had deliberately placed it there to lead her to the ruined temple in the western suburbs. But other than this clue, she had no other way to find Uncle Liu.

"No matter if it's a trap or not, I'm going to go," Yun Zhi clutched the note tightly, her eyes determined. "This is my only chance to find out the truth. Even if there's danger, I can't give up."

Xie Heng looked at her determined eyes and knew that he couldn't persuade her, so he said, "Okay, I'll go with you. But we must be well prepared and bring enough people with us just in case."

Yun Zhi nodded, carefully put the note away, and placed it back in Sun Tzu's Art of War. She walked to the window, looked at the mountain road in the distance, and secretly made up her mind - the day after tomorrow night, she must meet Uncle Liu, obtain evidence, and seek justice for her father and her child!

But she didn't know that at this moment, the capital was in turmoil because of her "disappearance". In Prince Duan's mansion, Lin Wanru learned that Yun Zhi had been rescued by Xie Heng. She was so angry that she smashed the teacup and yelled at the maid: "A bunch of useless people! They can't even catch a sick woman! And you let Xie Heng ruin my plan!"

"Princess, calm down," the maid knelt down hurriedly. "I heard that those men in black were killed by a group of unidentified people. Perhaps it was secretly arranged by the prince? After all, before he left, the prince said to 'keep a close eye on Concubine Yun'..."

"Xiao Jin?" Lin Wanru was stunned, then sneered, "He wouldn't protect that bitch! She must be an old member of the Yun family! No, I can't let that bitch live, and I can't let her solve the old case! Come on, investigate! Even if we have to turn the capital upside down, we must find Yun Zhi's whereabouts!"

Far away at the border, Xiao Jin stood in his tent, reading a secret letter in his hand. It read, "Madam Yun was rescued by Xie Heng, but was attacked en route. The incident appears to be the work of the princess, and she has been taken away by an unknown force." He clutched the letter, his knuckles white, his eyes filled with sinister intent. "Lin Wanru... Xie Heng... and that unknown force... Good, very good!"

He turned and ordered the secret guards: "Pass the order down, speed up the handling of the border war, and return to the capital within three days!"

The secret guards withdrew as ordered. Xiao Jin looked at the night outside the tent, feeling a sense of panic inexplicably. Yun Zhi, you must not be in any danger! You still haven't paid back what you owe me and the Yun family, how can you die?

Yun Zhi, in the other courtyard, knew nothing of this. She stared at the note in her hand, feeling that while the road ahead was treacherous, she finally had a direction. However, she hadn't noticed that in the shadows behind the bookshelf, a small wolf-head mark was faintly glowing—it was the mark of her father's former subordinates, and a signal of impending danger.