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Wu Meifen sat in her private quarters, savoring a late dinner. The workers had already finished their meals and were now engaged in their nightly routines. Her room, dimly lit by a solitary lamp, felt peaceful yet filled with the weight of the day's events.
As she ate, Wu Meifen meticulously reviewed the inventory for the day's harvest, neatly organized by Zhao Tao. Parchments and scrolls were stacked on the side of her table. Among them, she found an incident report written by Escort Chun Haoyu, team leader of their Celestial Shield Escort Agency. She knew this needed her official stamp before it could be presented to the magistrate.
Wu Meifen paused, setting down her chopsticks. She unrolled the scroll, her eyes scanning the neatly written characters. The report detailed the discovery of an unconscious stranger at the harvesting site. Escort Chun described how Xiao Lin, an apprentice woodcutter of the Dragon's Edge Woodcutters company, first spotted the person by the stream, and the subsequent actions taken by the team. Wu Meifen's eyes lingered on the description of the stranger: a young person with a short haircut, wearing muddied clothes and clutching strange, unfamiliar tools.
"Unusual belongings," she murmured to herself. Her curiosity was piqued by the mention of a tube, a rugged belt with unidentifiable tools, and a sturdy hat resembling a farmer's hat. Despite the attire being tattered and muddy, it seemed to be of high quality. The report concluded with recommendations for the stranger's care and the need for Wu Meifen's validation.
As Wu Meifen read the detailed account, she was momentarily frozen in deep thought. The dire condition of the stranger and the mystery surrounding their identity weighed heavily on her mind. She then stamped the report with her official seal and set it aside.
Her thoughts wandered to the stranger's appearance and situation. In the report, Uncle Chen had initially assumed the young stranger was a slave boy abandoned in the forest. This was based on the short haircut, typical of young boys who had not yet reached their coming-of-age ceremony. However, the boatman healer, Healer Wang, speculated that the stranger could be a young man around the age of Zhao Tao. Healer Wang's suggested that the stranger might be of noble birth or someone of importance who had run away or was escaping something. Regardless of the tattered and muddy state of the clothes, they seemed to be of high quality, as did the unfamiliar tools he carried.
Wu Meifen considered the possibilities. If the stranger were indeed someone of importance, her presence could bring unforeseen complications. The potential implications of harboring such an individual weighed heavily on her mind, hinting at a deeper mystery that could disrupt their lives.
Considering the situation, Wu Meifen intertwined her fingers and pressed them against her mouth, her elbows resting lightly on the table. Her expression, marked by a serious yet graceful composure, revealed her deep contemplation. The soft light from the lantern cast gentle shadows on her face, accentuating her refined features and serene but focused demeanor. She sat with a poised posture, her back straight and shoulders relaxed, embodying both the elegance of her station and the gravity of her responsibilities.
The table before her was strewn with the remnants of her day: a half-finished dinner, several inventory scrolls and parchments, and the unrolled incident report, her official stamp still fresh with drying ink. The lantern's soft light bathed these items, casting a warm and intimate glow over the room. Wu Meifen's room, though modest, was comfortably appointed, featuring a small writing desk, a single chair, a chest for her belongings and a neatly made bed. The space, reflective of a higher-ranking hunter's sleeping quarters in the hunters' cabin, conveyed both functionality and a subtle touch of privacy.
Wu Meifen herself was dressed in her usual practical but elegant outfit, befitting the owner of Dragon's Edge Woodcutters Company. Her attire consisted of a well-fitted, dark silk tunic, embroidered subtly with patterns of nature, paired with loose trousers and sturdy yet graceful shoes. Her long hair was neatly pinned up, though a few loose strands framed her face, softened by the lantern's glow.
She felt a growing sense of responsibility towards the stranger. They needed to ensure the young person received the necessary care and protection until more was known about their identity and circumstances.
Wu Meifen's long reverie was interrupted by a soft knock on the door. Ensuring the ink on the scroll was dry, she rolled it up and responded with a gentle, "Come in." Chief Jing entered quietly, her presence a reassuring routine. "Mistress Wu, have you finished your dinner?"
Wu Meifen looked up from the scroll, her thoughts still immersed in the details. "Yes, Chief Jing. Thank you."
"Warm water has been prepared for your bath," Chief Jing informed her gently, placing a stack of letters on the table. "Here are the personal letters from everyone, except for a few," she added while gathering the remnants of Wu Meifen's unfinished dinner from the small tray..
"I see, thank you," Wu Meifen replied, rising from her seat. She followed Chief Jing through the kitchen area, where Helper Jing set the tray aside. Cook Gu was busy sorting firewood and rekindling the fireplaces. The crackling flames promised warmth for the night ahead.
They exited through the back of the cabin, reaching the outhouse, a typical structure. It had three doors: two were for public use, accommodating large numbers with simple wooden benches over long troughs. The third door led to a more private bathing area, where a large wooden tub awaited. Warm water for the bath was filled using buckets, a laborious but effective method to ensure a soothing experience. The room was modest, with a few privacy screens and basic amenities, offering a sense of comfort and seclusion.
Jing Xiu assisted Wu Meifen with the preparations, though she noticed Mistress Wu's distracted mien. Respecting her apparent exhaustion, Chief Helper Jing Xiu chose not to intrude on her thoughts.
As Wu Meifen immersed herself in the warm water, the soothing atmosphere began to ease some of her tension. Chief Jing's presence was unobtrusive yet comforting, her skillful assistance providing a necessary reprieve without breaking Wu Meifen's contemplative silence.
Later, as the night deepened, Wu Meifen found herself unable to sleep. Despite her fatigue, her mind remained restless. Deciding to check on the patient, she slipped on a cloak over her night attire—a simple yet elegant changpao, its soft fabric draping gracefully over her figure—and made her way through the dimly lit corridors. The moon cast a pale light over the quiet gathering hall, where the soft glow from the fireplace illuminated the empty space. The hall was warm but silent, the other occupants presumably resting soundly
Crossing the gathering hall, Wu Meifen made her way toward the male workers' sleeping quarters on the opposite side of the cabin. The healer's room was located at the very end of this path. She noticed the door was slightly ajar and entered with careful movements. Upon stepping inside, she was immediately enveloped by the dense, medicinal scent that filled the air.
Physician Chu was asleep at the work table, positioned near the entrance, his head resting on his arms, his breathing steady but interrupted by occasional snoring. The work table was cluttered with various medicinal herbs, a mortar and pestle, scrolls filled with notes, and small jars containing powders and salves. The table, a hub of activity and healing, now stood in disarray. Wu Meifen noted how deeply he slept, his exhaustion evident, making him appear oblivious to the world around him.
Approaching the bed where the young patient lay, she observed the stranger's pale features and underlying charm despite the grime and rough appearance. The contrast between the disheveled state and the inherent poise left Wu Meifen with a deep sense of curiosity and concern.
Her gaze shifted to the second wooden bunk, where a collection of strange items was neatly arranged. She carefully inspected each object, her fingers brushing lightly over their surfaces. There was a sturdy helmet with an unusual design, bearing a small, transparent dome at the front—possibly for something, though its exact function eluded her. Next to it lay a long, flexible strip marked with strange, evenly spaced lines and symbols. Escort Zhu Changli had earlier mistaken it for a compass, but to Wu Meifen, it seemed more like a peculiar type of ribbon. that retracts sharply.
The array of bronze and wooden tools, with intricate shapes and mechanisms, fascinated her; she had never seen anything like them.
Among the tools was a small book, its pages warped and ink smudged from water damage. Though it resembled a ledger in form, it was made differently—the pages were thinner and more refined than the rough paper typically seen in the thick, string-sewn ledgers and books she was used to. Wu Meifen delicately opened it, revealing symbols and characters that were completely foreign to her. The ink wasn't applied with a normal writing brush but rather seemed to have been drawn with a precision more akin to a painter's fine line brush. Straight lines and intricate diagrams covered the pages, resembling blueprints but crafted with an unfamiliar level of detail and accuracy, hinting at the advanced and mysterious nature of the stranger's origins and purpose.
Her eyes then fell on a small, rectangular object made of smooth, glossy material. The dark, lifeless surface seemed to reflect light in a blurry, mirror-like fashion. Wu Meifen had no idea what its purpose could be and thought it was a stone with a blurry mirror surface, but its craftsmanship suggested it had some important function.
As she observed these items, her mind swirled with questions. The combination of the familiar and the alien stirred her interest, but her natural restraint and composed manner kept her from lingering too long. She stepped back, her thoughts now more tangled than ever, the mystery of the young patient deepening with every new piece of the puzzle.
As the room settled into a quiet vigil, Wu Meifen pulled a chair closer to the bed, periodically checking on the patient. Noticing the discomfort etched into the patient's frown—likely due to a nightmare—she hesitated for a moment before gently brushing a stray lock of hair from their forehead and smoothing the deep furrows. An inexplicable sense of protectiveness overcame her as she pondered the patient's disturbing dreams.
Wu Meifen adjusted the blankets to keep the patient warm, her heart aching with empathy. She left her hand resting gently on the blanket, hoping to offer some comfort. Outside, the remaining night was dark and silent. Her simple gestures seemed to bridge a connection between them, despite the young stranger's unconscious state.
As Wu Meifen studied Ling Wei's face, her thoughts raced, silently wondering, 'Who are you? What trials have you endured?'