I heard them leave, their footsteps fading quickly. Moments later, Zhao Mingzhen entered, balancing Sanbao on one hip and carrying a bowl of medicine in her other hand. She set the bowl down. “Drink this,” she said. “I’ll be back for the bowl in a bit.”
Then she turned and hurried out without waiting to see me take it.
I stared at the dark liquid in the bowl, my mind racing. I had to save a sample
















