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In the night, a figure quietly awaited her arrival...
Late at night, the sky was overcast, with flashes of lightning illuminating the outline of Qian Mansion's courtyard. Nangong Shuang sat by the window, listening to the sound of raindrops hitting the bamboo leaves, her mind racing with thoughts.
It had been two days since her chance encounter with Xiao Zhongyan at the apothecary, and the profound words "The fragrance of plum blossoms comes from bitter cold" still echoed in her ears. Xiao Zhongyan's true intentions, Guo Chunyi's secret discussions with him, and the upcoming Guanyin Temple Meeting all left her feeling restless.
Suddenly, a series of urgent knocks interrupted her thoughts.
"Come in," Nangong Shuang said, retracting her gaze and turning toward the door.
Qiao Er hurriedly pushed the door open, drenched from the rain, clearly having rushed back. Her face bore an unmistakable mix of excitement and anxiety. "Sister! I... I saw Chen Bo!"
"What?" Nangong Shuang sprang to her feet, eyes wide in disbelief. "What did you say? Chen Bo? The old steward of the Nangong Family?"
Qiao Er nodded vigorously, wiping the rain from her face. "It's him! I saw him with my own eyes; there's no mistake!"
Nangong Shuang grabbed Qiao Er's hand tightly. "But he already... I saw him at the Execution Ground..."
"I thought he was dead too!" Qiao Er replied eagerly. "But just now, when I was gathering information in the west of the city, I passed by Zui Xian Lou and saw an old man sitting in a corner on the second floor through the window. That silhouette, that white hair, and how he held his tea—I recognized him immediately as Chen Bo!"
Nangong Shuang's heart raced. Chen Bo had been the most loyal servant of the Nangong Family, serving since her grandfather's time. If he was still alive, it would be a crucial lead in uncovering the past of the Nangong Family!
But she quickly became cautious again. "Are you sure it's him? At the Execution Ground, I clearly saw him fall..."
Qiao Er bit her lip nervously. "I can't be completely certain, which is why I didn't approach him recklessly. But I found a spot to observe from a distance and saw him get up to leave. That distinctive limping gait and his habit of twirling his beard—there's no doubt it's Chen Bo!"
Nangong Shuang's heartbeat quickened. Chen Bo's limp was an old injury he sustained while saving Nangong Laoye when he was young; very few people knew about it. And that habit of twirling his beard was indeed his signature action—Qiao Er couldn't possibly be mistaken.
"Where did he go?" Nangong Shuang asked urgently.
"I followed him from afar and saw him head west out of the city to an abandoned temple in the outskirts," Qiao Er replied. "I didn't dare get too close; I only confirmed he entered the temple before coming back to report."
Nangong Shuang's mind raced with possibilities. Chen Bo was alive! Was it possible that the one executed at the Execution Ground was a substitute? Why had he appeared now? Was it coincidence or intentional?
"Sister, should we go see him?" Qiao Er asked cautiously. "The rain is getting heavier outside."
Nangong Shuang glanced at the dark night sky and the pouring rain, recalling her appointment with Xiao Zhongyan in two days' time. She hesitated for a moment. What if it were a trap? What if someone was using Chen Bo to lure her into danger?
But then she thought again: if Chen Bo truly was alive, he might know more about the truth behind the annihilation of the Nangong Family and perhaps even where to find the Heavenly Fragrance Life-Extending Technique. She couldn't let this opportunity slip away.
"I'll go," Nangong Shuang said firmly, rising to retrieve a bundle from under her bed. She quickly unwrapped it and took out a set of dark clothing for night travel. "You stay here and keep a close watch on any movements at Qian Mansion. If I haven't returned in three hours, follow our plan."
Qiao Er grew anxious. "It's too dangerous for you to go alone in this heavy rain! Let me accompany you!"
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