After an unknown amount of time, Xin Kui rushed back, her face showing a hint of panic: "Miss, I've found out. The Sixth Prince was assassinated five days ago on his way to the palace. It's said the assassin used poison, and he remains unconscious..."
With a clatter, the teacup in Xin Jiuwei's hand fell to the ground, splashing hot water onto the hem of her skirt. She seemed oblivious, her gaze fixed intently on Xin Kui: "Is the news true?"
"Those people at the inn are medicine merchants from the capital. They said they personally witnessed the Imperial Hospital's carriages entering and leaving the Sixth Prince's residence," Xin Kui said in a low voice. "They also said... the Emperor is furious and has already executed several guards."
Xin Jiuwei turned to face the window, hiding her deathly pale face from Xin Kui. Xiao Xun poisoned and unconscious... this thought was like a dull knife, slowly cutting into her heart. How could someone so meticulously calculating...
"Miss, shall we still go to the capital?" Xin Kui asked cautiously.
"Go." Xin Jiuwei's voice was as cold as ice. "And faster than originally planned."
As night fell, the wind and snow intensified. Xin Jiuwei tossed and turned, unable to sleep, so she got up, lit a lamp, and took out Xiao Xun's letter, reading it repeatedly. Although the handwriting was weak, the strokes and turns still revealed it to be Xiao Xun's own. If he was truly unconscious, when was this letter written?
Just as she was lost in thought, she suddenly heard light footsteps outside the door. Xin Jiuwei immediately blew out the candle, drew the dagger her cousin had given her, and silently moved behind the door.
"Young lady, are you still awake?" It was the voice of the woman in purple from the evening. "I apologize for disturbing you so late at night; I have something important to tell you."
Xin Jiuwei didn't open the door immediately: "What is it?"
"About Master Jueming of Lingyin Temple," the woman's voice held a hint of meaning, "and something he asked me to pass on."
Xin Jiuwei's heart skipped a beat. She gently pulled back the latch, the dagger still clutched in her hand: "Please come in."
A woman in purple robes drifted in, bringing with her a faint scent of medicine. She sat down at the table and took out a jade token from her sleeve, placing it on the table. Xin Jiuwei glanced at it in the snowlight streaming through the window and her breath caught in her throat—this was the abbot of Lingyin Temple's token, which she had seen Xiao Xun use before.
"Who are you?" Xin Jiuwei asked warily.
"My name is Lan Mingyue, and I'm an itinerant doctor," the woman chuckled. "Of course, I also work for that esteemed person."
Xin Jiuwei noticed that when she said "that lord," she tapped the jade tablet three times with her finger, which was Xiao Xun's usual code.
"How is he now?" Xin Jiuwei finally asked the question that had been lingering in her mind for a long time.
Lan Mingyue gave her a meaningful look: "Don't worry, young lady, that man won't die anytime soon." She took out a small porcelain bottle from her medicine pouch. "He asked me to give this to you. Take one pill daily to prevent the poison of miasma."
Xin Jiuwei took the porcelain bottle, and the moment her fingertips touched Lan Mingyue's palm, she felt the rough calluses—marks left from years of wielding a sword. This woman, who called herself a traveling healer, was definitely more than just a doctor.
"Why didn't he just say that in the letter?" Xin Jiuwei remained vigilant.
Lan Mingyue smiled: "You are a clever girl. If the letter had fallen into the wrong hands, a few words could be explained, but if it described the antidote in detail..." She suddenly lowered her voice, "Besides, that official didn't expect you to set off so quickly."
Xin Jiuwei paused. Indeed, if she hadn't learned that Xiao Xun was injured, she had originally planned to wait a few more days before setting off.
She knew perfectly well that the man was unfathomable and that the capital was rife with undercurrents. Even if Xiao Xun was the ultimate winner in her previous life, she had walked a bloody path filled with swords and shadows. Once she got involved, she could not possibly escape unscathed on her own.
She knew she should stay away from him, especially given their current delicate and dangerous relationship.
Even knowing he was injured, she remained restless and anxious.
"What is he doing now—"
"Miss," Lan Mingyue interrupted her, "There are some things the less you know, the better." She stood up to leave, then turned back and said, "By the way, don't take the main road tomorrow; take the Luoxia Valley instead. It's a longer route, but safer."
Xin Jiuwei frowned deeply: "Who wants to kill me?"
"Not to kill you, but to capture you." Lan Mingyue paused at the doorway. "The Second Prince's men already know you left Yuncheng and are on their way here. They want to use you to blackmail Lord Xin, control the Xin family, and of course, keep... that other official in check."
The door closed softly, and Xin Jiuwei stood there, the porcelain bottle in her hand as cold as snow. The Second Prince had acted faster than she had expected; it seemed that the Xin family had already been drawn into this huge vortex, and her father, brothers, and sisters were not entirely safe.
Outside the window, the wind and snow howled all night. Xin Jiuwei lay fully clothed, Lan Mingyue's words replaying in her mind. Xiao Xun had secretly sent people to protect her, which meant he wasn't completely unconscious. Or perhaps... this was something he arranged before the assassination attempt?
Just as dawn was breaking, Xin Jiuwei was drifting off to sleep when she was startled awake by the rapid sound of horses' hooves. She immediately got up and went to the window, where she saw more than ten riders approaching the inn. The leader was talking to the innkeeper and occasionally pointing upstairs.
"Xin Kui!" she whispered, "Get up quickly, we have to leave immediately!"
The two quickly packed their belongings and climbed out of the back window. The stables were not far away, but to get there they had to cross the yard. Just as Xin Jiuwei hesitated, a familiar voice sounded behind them:
"This way."
Lan Mingyue appeared behind them unnoticed, carrying a medicine box, her expression calm: "Follow me, there's a secret passage in the cellar."
Xin Jiuwei hesitated for only a moment before deciding to trust the mysterious woman. The three of them silently sneaked into the kitchen and went down the cellar ladder. Lan Mingyue skillfully moved several wine jars aside, revealing a dark opening.
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