Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
On the way back, Qian Wan'er sat inside the carriage and soon fell asleep due to the rocking motion. Nangong Shuang and Qiao Er sat beside her, exchanging glances in silence for a moment.
"Why did you take me in, Sister?" Qiao Er suddenly asked in a low voice, her tone losing some of its streetwise edge and gaining a touch of steadiness.
Nangong Shuang smiled slightly. "Because I know you are not an ordinary vendor."
A flicker of surprise crossed Qiao Er's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure. "Sister has a keen eye."
"You carry the aura of someone trained in martial arts, and your hands show signs of frequent use of hidden weapons," Nangong Shuang said, looking directly into her eyes. "Moreover, you seem particularly wary of officials."
Qiao Er sighed, her wariness gradually fading. "Sister is indeed not simple. To be honest, I am not an ordinary embroiderer."
"Then who are you?" Nangong Shuang's voice was gentle yet firm.
Qiao Er hesitated for a moment, weighing whether to be honest. Ultimately, she made up her mind and whispered, "I am from Jinyi Tower, responsible for gathering intelligence."
"Jinyi Tower?" Nangong Shuang frowned slightly. "What kind of organization is that?"
"It is an intelligence organization in the martial world that provides information to various factions without regard for their positions, only seeking profit," Qiao Er explained. "However, recently Jinyi Tower has been suppressed by an organization called Shadow Pavilion, and many of my brothers and sisters have fallen victim. I managed to escape by luck and had to hide my identity to make a living in the streets."
Nangong Shuang's heart jolted—Shadow Pavilion! It was the mysterious organization she had discovered recently that might be related to the annihilation of the Nangong Family!
"What is Shadow Pavilion's background?" Nangong Shuang tried to keep her tone calm.
Qiao Er glanced around cautiously, confirming that Qian Wan'er was still asleep before whispering, "Shadow Pavilion is a killer organization secretly formed by a powerful figure in the court, specializing in eliminating dissenters. They operate covertly and are ruthless; it is said that ten years ago during the shocking Nangong Family Massacre Case, Shadow Pavilion had a hand in it."
Nangong Shuang's heart raced as she forced herself to remain composed. "Nangong Family? Is that the medical family that was exterminated for treason?"
"Treason?" Qiao Er scoffed. "That was merely a frame-up. The truth is well known among those in the martial world."
"Oh?" Nangong Shuang feigned curiosity. "What is the truth?"
Qiao Er looked around again, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "It is said that the Nangong Family possessed a medical book containing a great secret related to the royal family. To cover up the truth, someone used the charge of treason to wipe out the entire Nangong clan."
This aligned with what Nangong Shuang knew; it seemed Qiao Er indeed had some insider information. She decided to probe further: "So you mean the Nangong Family was wronged?"
"Of course!" Qiao Er nodded emphatically. "The Nangong Family has been treating people for generations with high moral standards; how could they commit treason? But..." She suddenly paused, narrowing her eyes as she scrutinized Nangong Shuang. "Why is Sister so interested in the Nangong Family?"
Nangong Shuang calmly evaded the question. "I happened to hear someone mention them recently and became curious. Since you are an intelligence expert, you must know quite a bit about the secrets of various prominent families in the capital?"
Seeing her change the subject, Qiao Er stopped pressing and smiled proudly. "Naturally! Especially regarding the Xiao Family; on the surface they are high-ranking officials in court, but behind closed doors they engage in all sorts of unsavory dealings."
"The Xiao Family?" Nangong Shuang feigned surprise. "Isn't that the family of Minister Xiao?"
Qiao Er nodded and lowered her voice further. "Exactly! The Xiao Family appears prosperous but is rife with internal strife. Minister Xiao has two sons; although his eldest son Xiao Zhongyan is legitimate, he is not favored; while his second son Xiao Zhongmo is illegitimate yet deeply loved by Minister Xiao. The two brothers have been competing against each other for years."
Comment 0 Comment Count