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墨書 Inktalez
Nangong Nuo stopped in his tracks, standing with his hands behind his back, a wicked smile curling at the corners of his lips. "Miss Mei Shuang, what do you think the Empress Dowager would feel if she knew that her beloved Miss Mei Shuang is defying her orders?"
Mei Shuang was left speechless with anger and turned to head down the mountain.
What did it matter how the Empress Dowager thought? Serving the elderly Empress Dowager had been Mei Shuang's way before, merely to curry favor with the Empress. Now, she was neither the original Mei Shuang nor did she have any connection with the Empress. To return and serve a powerful elder whose temperament she did not understand was a risk; any mistake could lead to severe consequences.
Why should she wade into such murky waters?
Nangong Nuo followed behind, thinking that this suited him just fine. She had been dawdling earlier, but now she was moving quickly.
However, he wasn't worried that Mei Shuang was truly angry. First, he had genuinely considered her feelings; second, he wanted to see her try to leave on her own.
Descending the mountain was more exhausting than climbing it. After a while, Mei Shuang nearly slipped down the slope, but fortunately, Nangong Nuo was quick to react. "I’m only looking out for your best interests, Miss Mei Shuang. You should know the Empress Dowager’s temperament well by now. Once she makes a decision, even the Emperor cannot change it. What are you lamenting for Chu Xiruo?"
Seeing Mei Shuang sulking, Nangong Nuo sighed. "The Empress Dowager's arrangements must have their deeper meaning. It’s best if you act as if you know nothing..."
Mei Shuang finally understood and muttered, "Alright then."
---
After descending the mountain with Nangong Nuo, Mei Shuang was famished.
Nangong Nuo had already instructed his people to prepare food on-site. Before long, four small dishes were served on a stone table.
Mei Shuang and Nangong Nuo sat facing each other.
This time, Mei Shuang surprisingly took a keen interest in drinking.
During the march, the alcohol was mostly strong, and Mei Shuang naturally couldn't handle it well. After just a couple of sips, she felt dizzy. Nangong Nuo laughed and said, "You can't hold your liquor but still want to show off."
Mei Shuang raised an eyebrow, lifting her cup defiantly and said, "Who would have thought this wine was so strong? I may not drink well, but who knows how much you can handle..."
At that moment, the beauty's face was flushed with spring, especially with her slightly pouted cherry lips and her eyes sparkling with emotion. In her playful anger and joy, her charm became evident, momentarily leaving Nangong Nuo somewhat entranced.
The wine cup paused in mid-air as he forgot to pour it into his mouth.
Mei Shuang leaned slightly forward, supporting the bottom of the cup and urging Nangong Nuo to finish it in one go.
Nangong Nuo stared blankly at the woman pouring wine for him, feeling a moment of daze. He saw Mei Shuang refill his cup again, her black-and-white eyes filled with provocation. "Don't boast. If you can drink ten cups of this without getting drunk, I will gladly drink one cup with you."
"Haha, alright..." After a moment of surprise, Nangong Nuo accepted eagerly.
A drinking contest? Hehe, Mei Shuang chuckled inwardly.
Two hours later, as dusk fell, Nangong Nuo had already passed out drunkenly on a large stone behind him.
Although Mei Shuang felt a bit dizzy herself, it was nothing compared to Nangong Nuo's nearly thirty cups of strong liquor.
Her capacity for alcohol was no joke.
Still feeling a bit uneasy, she approached the completely wasted Nangong Nuo and gave him a gentle push. Seeing that he showed no response, she finally felt relieved and got up.
There was a distance from the Prison Cart of Kuranami Miyako, and Mei Shuang, unable to hold her liquor, stumbled near the Prison Cart, noticing the guards standing watch not far away.
Mei Shuang first approached the area near the Prison Cart and retched for a while. Then, swaying unsteadily, she made her way to the front of the Prison Cart, resting one hand on it while peering inside with her "drunken" hazy eyes at Kuranami Miyako.
Seeing Mei Shuang like this, Kuranami Miyako was puzzled and merely looked at her coldly, but she did not miss Mei Shuang casually beckoning her with a finger.
The Prison Cart was small; with just a slight movement, Kuranami Miyako was closer to Mei Shuang.
"Is there still...?" Mei Shuang asked in a low voice while clutching her chest.
Kuranami Miyako was momentarily taken aback before letting out a soft hum.
Mei Shuang turned her gaze backward and whispered, "Oh, it seems the lock on the Prison Cart is loose..."
Although her voice was low, it was enough for several nearby guards to hear, and they quickly rushed over.
When the group gathered in front of the Prison Cart, one of them carefully examined the iron lock, then took out a key to try it, looking at Mei Shuang beside him with confusion.
Just as things were happening quickly, Kuranami Miyako waved her sleeve, and after a faint mist spread out, several guards collapsed softly to the ground.
Mei Shuang swiftly picked up the key from the ground and unlocked the Prison Cart.
Kuranami Miyako easily jumped out of the Prison Cart.
Everything was silent.
"Thank you for lending a hand to the Jiu Rang Family."
Before Kuranami Miyako finished speaking, she wrapped her arm around Mei Shuang while pressing a sharp knife against Mei Shuang's neck. "You'll have to endure a bit more; otherwise, we won't be able to get out at all."
Mei Shuang felt the pressure on her neck and coughed a few times before struggling to say, "Listen to me, it's too late for us to leave now."
"It’s not too late. As long as you’re here, everything is still possible," Kuranami Miyako whispered into Mei Shuang's ear while carefully listening to the sounds around them.
"Hey, let go of me—what I mean is if you don't hurry back to the Eastern Kingdom right now, it will truly be too late..."
"...What do you mean?" Kuranami Miyako's face slightly changed color.
"It’s already mid-February. Historical records state that there will be great upheaval in the Eastern Kingdom in March... If you don’t rush back soon, cough..."
Kuranami Miyako loosened her grip, staring at Mei Shuang in disbelief, her eyes filled with shock. "What historical records?"
Mei Shuang escaped from Kuranami Miyako's grasp and took a moment to catch her breath before saying, "There's no time to explain. The Eastern Kingdom is currently searching for experts to lift the curse, unaware that this is giving Queen Himiko an opportunity. If I remember correctly, there should be internal strife in the Eastern Kingdom at the beginning of March; this is exactly what Queen Himiko has been planning. She can’t wait any longer..."
Kuranami Miyako felt a sinking feeling in her heart but maintained a calm exterior. "Nonsense. I haven't received any such news."
"Either your position is too low, or they’ve blocked information from reaching you..." Mei Shuang replied dismissively.
Kuranami Miyako furrowed her brows slightly, as if deep in thought.
"If I recall correctly, Queen Himiko allowed you to search for experts at the end of last year, and during your search, you encountered no obstacles. That’s why you were able to find me so smoothly... Perhaps they have already calculated that even if you find an expert, it will be too late... Moreover, you are scattered in all directions and exhausted; now the Eastern Kingdom is left with only the old, young, sick, and disabled—like an eagle with its wings clipped, it’s only a matter of time before it gets eaten."
Kuranami Miyako could no longer contain her anger; her expression suddenly changed as she gritted her teeth and said, "Do not speak nonsense. The Eastern Kingdom has already made thorough arrangements before coming here."
"I have said what I needed to say; now it is your choice," Mei Shuang replied. "If you act quickly, the internal strife can be stopped, and the Eastern Kingdom may still have a few decades left. However, if you continue to hesitate, it will be beyond saving, and you will only wait for Queen Himiko to consume the Eastern Kingdom."
Kuranami Miyako's gaze shifted, yet her determination remained unwavering. "No, you must come with me!"
Mei Shuang smiled wryly. "The urgent matter is to save the Eastern Kingdom; breaking the curse is the next step. Right now, I am powerless to help, and going with you would only be a burden. If you do not believe me, you can let me accompany you, but if it delays important matters, you will bear the responsibility."
Kuranami Miyako fell silent for a moment, seemingly weighing the credibility of Mei Shuang's words. Finally, she stated firmly, "Then please tell me, can you truly lift the curse on our family?"
Mei Shuang smiled bitterly and glanced at the sky. "If I say no, you certainly won't believe me. But let me tell you this: one cannot go against fate. If this calamity facing the Eastern Kingdom can be avoided, then it is heaven's will, and only then can you buy time to deal with Queen Himiko. However, the prophecy states that the Jiu Rang Family's lifespan will not exceed thirty years..."
"Thirty years..."
Kuranami Miyako murmured softly before falling silent.
Suddenly, Mei Shuang noticed that there was a glimmer of hope in her eyes; it seemed she had begun to believe her words.
Historically, this period in the small Eastern Kingdom was marked by tragedy.
The appearance of a woman named Himiko changed the fate of the entire Eastern Kingdom and its surrounding small nations.
This remarkable woman named Himiko followed the will of heaven and began ruling Yamataikoku at seventeen, gradually conquering neighboring small countries. The Eastern Kingdom ruled by the Jiu Rang Family was merely one among dozens of nations she conquered. Moreover, Himiko was elusive and lived to over ninety years old, ruling Yamataikoku for seventy years...
Of course, there was no need to share this with Kuranami Miyako; it would only shatter her confidence in an instant.
"Thank you..." Kuranami Miyako murmured, "Is there no other way?"
"No," Mei Shuang shook her head. "Now might be the last chance..."
In an instant, Kuranami Miyako's face fell. After days of fleeing and hardship, her once rosy lips, as vibrant as the petals of a reed, were now cracked. If it weren't for her strong will, she might have already collapsed.
She stared silently at the moon for a moment before suddenly her eyes turned blood red, and she growled, "Why didn't you say this earlier?"
At that moment, Kuranami Miyako had lost her composure. Despite her efforts to stand tall, this unyielding woman’s slender shoulders appeared frail and desolate in the night.
Mei Shuang gazed at this woman who was willing to sacrifice everything for her family's survival and felt a deep sense of admiration rising within her. She sighed, "Miss Miyako, if I heard correctly, when you were captured, you communicated with your companions about the situation in the Eastern Kingdom. At that time, she mentioned that they were in the Eastern Kingdom and reassured you that as long as there was a glimmer of hope, you should seek out someone powerful... At that moment, they were actually hinting to you that there would be changes in the Eastern Kingdom. You just didn't realize it..."
This revelation left not only Kuranami Miyako in shock but also those watching from behind the boulder were equally astonished.
"You... you actually understand Eastern Language?" Kuranami Miyako said incredulously. "Who are you? The daughter of Chancellor Mei is certainly not this capable!"
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