The night sky was a canvas of inky black, studded with a million twinkling stars as Mei and Wei scurried through the winding alleys of Lin'an. The city, usually bustling with life, had surrendered to the quiet embrace of the night. Wei, usually a scholar buried in books, navigated the unfamiliar paths with surprising ease.
"Are you sure about this, Mei?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper. "The penalty for trespassing in the Forbidden City is severe, even for a resourceful girl like you."
Mei, clutching the small silk purse in her hand, set her jaw. "I have to know why the Emperor summoned Grandma. This isn't right."
They reached the outer wall of the Forbidden City, a towering behemoth of red brick and intricate jade tilework. Moonlight glinted off the polished metal of patrolling guards.
"Here's where I leave you," Wei said, his voice laced with concern. "Please be careful, Mei. This is no game."
Mei gave him a grateful smile. "I know, Wei. Thanks for everything."
She watched as Wei slipped away into the shadows, his retreating figure swallowed by the darkness. Taking a deep breath, Mei surveyed the imposing wall. She couldn't climb it – at least not with her limited upper body strength. But then, her eyes landed on a nearby bamboo forest, its tall stalks swaying gently in the night breeze.
An idea sparked in her mind. Drawing on her childhood memories of climbing trees to escape scoldings, Mei began her ascent. Reaching the top was a struggle, her fingers prickling with the cold metal bars at the top, but she eventually clambered over and dropped onto the soft earth within the Forbidden City.
The vast palace complex lay before her, a labyrinth of interconnected buildings, courtyards, and gardens. The air hung heavy with the scent of exotic flowers and a strange sense of anticipation. Mei knew she had only a few hours until dawn, when the guards would begin their morning rounds. She had to find Grandma Li quickly.
Following the faint glow of lanterns, she navigated the intricate pathways. She stumbled upon a group of palace maids, their hushed whispers carrying a piece of unsettling news: "The Emperor has fallen ill, and none of the Imperial physicians can seem to cure him."
A wave of fear washed over Mei. Was Grandma Li summoned for her supposed healing powers? But how did the Emperor even know about her?
Suddenly, a loud gong echoed through the palace grounds, shattering the silence. It was a signal - the Emperor's condition had worsened. Panic surged through Mei. She needed to find Grandma Li soon, not just for her sake, but for the Emperor's.
Driven by urgency, she stumbled upon a hidden passage behind a heavy tapestry. Curiosity, always her weakness, got the better of her. Sneaking through the narrow passage, she emerged into a dimly lit chamber adorned with ancient scrolls and dusty medicinal herbs. It was then she heard it - a soft groan.
There, on a bamboo bed, lay an elderly woman, her face pale and her brow furrowed in pain. It was her grandmother.
"Grandma?" Mei whispered, rushing to her side.
Grandma Li's eyes fluttered open, surprise washing over her face. "Mei? What are you doing here?"
Before Mei could explain, a voice boomed from the doorway. "Who dares intrude upon the Imperial Physician's quarters?"
Mei's heart hammered in her chest. Standing before them, his face etched with fury, was a man clad in imperial yellow robes. It was the Emperor.