Day 07: “Secrets.”

It's been a week since the incident happened and life at the palace was pretty slow. With a vast traditional building, mesmerizing pavilion and garden, beautiful maids, cool guards in armors, and an aesthetic office with many bamboo scrolls and brushes. I've already gotten used to wearing this neat hanfu and handling a few patients under the imperial doctor's watch. I must say it was quite boring since I could barely go out. Although, Li Xiang and Liao Yan often visited my office. But they could barely stay for an hour, they often went on investigation and all. Zhao Baiguang also sometimes visited me asking for my opinion on some political matters. I understood politics because my dad was a lawyer, he would sometimes teach me about political matters and law. It was quite a headache but my brain could comprehend it pretty well. Even I was surprised at myself…

"Excuse me, is physician Xun here?",

A girl dressed in yellow hanfu opened the sliding door a bit, this girl is called Qi Mo, she was a fellow who had transmigrated as well. However, she was transmigrated in 2007, while Liao Yan and I were in 2017. Naturally, she's older than us, which I assumed was about the same age as Zhao Baiguang.

"What is it this time?",

"My palm was accidentally cut pretty deep, do you have a bandage?",

I sighed as I took some bandage and balm, I just wished this girl would take care of herself. She is a passionate engineering girl, I understand her passion but I wish she won't be selfless.

"How many times does it count this week?",

"I don't know… maybe three?",

"It's four.",

I applied the balm on her hand and wrapped it with a bandage.

"Is physician Xun here?",

"Come in.",

Liao Yan came in and saw Qi Mo, "Oh, Qi Mo is here again. Do you have a thing with Jinyun or what? It's the third time this week.",

"Fourth.",

"Fourth.",

Liao Yan slapped his forehead and grinning like an idiot. He just walked past the two of us and sat on my chair, really… the audacity.

"I hope you could take care of yourself Qi Mo, it's not good for a girl to often get injured.",

"I couldn't help it, I was working on a project to build a machine.",

"Say, what?",

Build a machine? In this age? Holymoly, is Qi Mo the true wizard or something?

"How could you build a machine in this era?",

"I asked the blacksmith to create a metal plank and few gears, then I asked him to create some wires and all, it was a difficult project but I managed.",

"You're really a genius. Perhaps, you could build us a time machine and send us back home.", I jested and put back the bandage on the shelf.

"How did you know about my secret project?",

"Say, what?",

Qi Mo closed the windows and doors, it seems like this secret project was something that no one but her and god knows about it. Qi Mo whispered to me and Liao Yan that she was building a time machine to go back home, because emperor Zhao forbids us from going back home. In short, we were being used as future generations to strengthen their military services and medical treatment. Although Zhao Baiguang didn't want to use us, even she couldn't do anything as an empress. The Huns also got even more fierce in the war at the north bank. This is why this kingdom relied on Qi Mo to produce some modern weapon that could help them annihilate the Huns. As an outsider, the three of us stayed neutral and didn't dare to pick a side lest we accidentally changed history. Besides, I think the Huns are not so different from this kingdom. Both wanted to spread their continent and obtained more resources for a flourishing life.

"I had mixed feelings regarding this matter.", Liao Yan said in a low voice.

"Why? You don't want to go back?", Qi Mo asked, of course, she couldn't understand. Liao Yan had a heart for Li Xiang, so going back was a hard decision for him.

"He had a crush on Li Xiang.", I said

Qi Mo was surprised and replied, "No way, that cold woman?",

"Yes, but she wasn't necessarily cold if you get to know her.", Liao Yan said with a hoarse voice, it seems like he was about to curse but held it down since he was speaking to a woman.

"I also had someone I like in this era.",

Once again, Qi Mo was surprised due to our love towards the women in this era. Strictly speaking, the women here are so different than in our time. They fought for their rights without throwing any sarcastic comments and accepted any opinion. Unlike the people in our era, it was counted as one of the sensitive topics.

"Come to think of it, you haven't told me who you like, Jinyun.",

"Promise me to keep it as a secret.",

"Yes.",

"Sure.",

I took a deep breath as I tried to calm my heart beating like a running roe and finally said solemnly, "Her Highness Zhao Baiguang."

…

...

...…

Three days have passed, Liao Yan, Qi Mo, and I went on a picnic at the palace garden during our time off. We were able to access it because we are some sort of an elite worker. Liao Yan spread the carpet on the grass while I helped Qi Mo to put down the basket filled with food and drink.

"It's been a while since I had a picnic.", Qi Mo sat down while taking out a thermos made with bamboo to drink her tea.

I sat down next to her while taking out the bacon-filled sandwich I made, "I suppose the people in this era rarely went on such occasion.",

"How so?", Liao Yan asked as he sat down next to me.

I pointed at the maids who happened to stop their activity and confusedly looked at us. They were surprised and immediately dispersed.

"I understand.",

Liao Yan also took the sandwich and stuffed it into his mouth. The three of us had a peaceful picnic to relieve our stress. We invited Li Xiang and Zhao Baiguang, but they refused since they must prepare a banquet for the third prince, Zhao Kang. The three of us may work closely with Li Xiang and Zhao Baiguang, but we never get the chance to see the third prince or other royal members. Even Qi Mo, who has already stayed for 2 months, had never seen anyone other than Zhao Baiguang from the royal family. I had a hunch that Zhao Baiguang is secretly protecting us from being used by other family members. She was an empress and no one didn't dare to disobey her. Those who did may not end up well…

"We were lucky to be protected by the empress.", I said.

"What do you mean?", Qi Mo was confused by what I meant and I couldn't blame her since she's quite oblivious to reading the atmosphere and people's moods.

Liao Yan furrowed his eyebrows and said, "You idiot, the reason why we barely could see the other royal member is because the empress had locked us in lest we work and support other royal members."

What Liao Yan said may be true, this is an age where you compete with other royal members with knives and schemes. It wouldn't be surprising if Zhao Baiguang also did the same to the other royal members. However…

"What you say may be true. But if she was using us as well to steal the throne, she might ask us to build something from the future, or scheming with other royal members who have supported her. As far as I have seen, she did nothing like that.",

Liao Yan sighed and said, "How do you know? You have seen her scheming cleverly while we played Uno back then.",

"Because up till now, none of the royal family members has visited us. If she did working together with them, she won't hesitate to share her employer with them.",

This time Liao Yan couldn't say anything…

If Qi Mo is the oblivious type, then Liao Yan is the one who always suspects anything and speaks before thinking. I was already used to their behavior and so did them. They even accepted my feelings towards Zhao Baiguang, even though they said it was a futile love and waste of time. Because Zhao Baiguang is married and soon going to have a son. In the end, we finished the meal in silence and just enjoyed the peaceful garden filled with various plants. It was a good time until a couple of bees approached us and dispersed our group who were already running in panic.