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墨書 Inktalez
"Where are we now?" Nangong Shuang asked, looking around.
Qiao Er recognized their surroundings and replied, "We're not far from the outskirts of the city. If we walk for another half an hour, we should see the city walls. But it's already quite late, and the city gates are probably closed."
"Is there a way to get into the city?" Nangong Shuang inquired.
After a moment of thought, Qiao Er's eyes brightened. "Yes! There's a small gate to the south of the city, specifically for carts delivering night soil. The guards there are lax; we can sneak in through that entrance."
Nangong Shuang nodded, and the two adjusted their clothing before heading south toward the city.
On the way, Nangong Shuang subtly asked Qiao Er more about the Nangong Family. Qiao Er spoke freely, sharing many details about their daily life and family customs. As she described things so thoroughly, Nangong Shuang felt her doubts gradually dissipate.
"What about the Miss of the Nangong Family?" Nangong Shuang asked casually. "You mentioned she cares for you?"
A hint of sadness flashed in Qiao Er's eyes. "Miss Nangong is kind-hearted and clever; she is the jewel of the Nangong Family. The master and mistress dote on her, teaching her medicine, poetry, and embroidery from a young age... Her greatest skill is the 'Azure Jade Sealing Needle,' which is a unique hidden weapon of the Nangong Family."
Hearing this familiar description stirred a whirlwind of emotions within Nangong Shuang. Every word seemed to recount her own childhood. It appeared that Qiao Er was indeed from the Nangong Family and had already recognized her identity.
"Did she... survive the massacre?" Nangong Shuang asked tentatively.
Qiao Er looked at her intently and whispered, "I don't know. That night was too chaotic; I was taken away by a servant and couldn't see what happened to the Miss in the end. But I've always believed she must be alive because she is the smartest person in the Nangong Family; she would have found a way to escape."
Nangong Shuang fell silent for a long time before finally sighing softly, "Qiao Er, you have recognized me, haven't you?"
Tears welled up in Qiao Er's eyes as she knelt on the ground with a thud. "Miss! It really is you! I have been waiting for you like a star waiting for the moon; I finally found you!"
Nangong Shuang hurriedly helped her up. "Get up quickly; this place isn't safe for long. Let's talk as we walk."
Qiao Er wiped her tears and nodded. "Yes, Miss."
The two continued on their way as Qiao Er quietly recounted her experiences over the past decade. She revealed that she had been rescued by the old steward of the Nangong Family back then and later sought refuge with Jinyi Tower, where she learned various skills while secretly searching for survivors of the Nangong Family, hoping to uncover the truth one day and clear their name.
"Then who is this 'Little Stone' you mentioned?" Nangong Shuang asked.
A flicker of hesitation crossed Qiao Er's face. "He... he is my fellow disciple at Jinyi Tower and also an acquaintance of the Nangong Family. Don't worry, Miss; he is absolutely reliable."
Nangong Shuang keenly sensed Qiao Er's reluctance to elaborate but knew they were pressed for time and could not delve deeper into it now.
Soon enough, they arrived at the small gate to the south of the city. Just as Qiao Er had said, there were only two drowsy guards who appeared extremely lax.
"I'll distract them; you take this chance to slip into the city," Qiao Er whispered.
Nangong Shuang nodded in agreement. Qiao Er immediately changed her tone and pretended to be a drunken villager, loudly causing a commotion outside the city gate. The two guards, annoyed by the noise, approached to drive her away.
Seizing the opportunity, Nangong Shuang quietly slipped through the city gate and quickly hid nearby to wait for Qiao Er.
Soon, Qiao Er shook off the guards and successfully entered the city. The two of them moved through the darkness, avoiding the patrolling soldiers, and finally returned to the vicinity of the Qian Mansion.
"Miss, what should we do now?" Qiao Er whispered.
Nangong Shuang pondered for a moment before making a decision. "First, we will return to the Qian Mansion and avoid alerting anyone. Three days from now, I need to go to the Nangong Ancestral Home to meet Xiao Zhongyan and search for the secret chamber and the Heavenly Fragrance Life-Extending Technique."
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