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墨書 Inktalez
Mei Shuang shrugged. "My name is Mei Shuang, but this isn't the time to discuss that. If we have the chance to meet again in the future, I'll tell you then... The sky is about to brighten. If you don't leave now, it will truly be too late..."
Kuranami Miyako looked deeply at Mei Shuang for a moment, then suddenly moved, drifting away into the distance and quickly disappearing into the valley.
...
Mei Shuang gazed at the charming figure vanishing under the moonlight, feeling a weight in her heart.
Looking up at the full moon on the horizon, she sighed deeply, silently praying, "Oh God, oh heavens, I did not mean to reveal any secrets; it was truly Kuranami Miyako's relentless spirit that moved me. So—please forgive me."
When Mei Shuang returned to the stone table with heavy steps, Nangong Nuo had already awakened. He sat quietly at the stone table, staring at Mei Shuang's return, his eyes showing no signs of intoxication.
"I didn't expect Miss Mei Shuang to outdrink me. How about another cup?" he said lightly.
Mei Shuang seemed not to hear him. She was not surprised by Nangong Nuo's words. She walked over to the large stone and gently sat down, hugging her knees. After a long silence, she finally spoke softly, "Just now, I let Kuranami Miyako go..."
Nangong Nuo raised an eyebrow, his dark eyes fixed on the somewhat dazed Mei Shuang without saying a word.
Throughout the night, Mei Shuang's attentive toasting made him suspicious; as they say, no one goes out of their way to be kind without a reason. Although this saying might not entirely apply to Mei Shuang, her actions were too obvious.
He had thought she would get herself drunk and take the opportunity to find Chu Xiruo at the mountain top; unexpectedly, she had cleverly let Kuranami Miyako go.
Of course, Nangong Nuo had awakened just as she left. A few cups of wine could hardly make him lose consciousness. Most of the wine he had discreetly poured out with his wide sleeves. Unfortunately, how could Mei Shuang notice his swift movements?
He had heard every word of Mei Shuang's behavior and her conversation with Kuranami Miyako clearly and was greatly astonished in his heart.
If it was said that the previous Mei Shuang had long since become a different person, now he truly believed it.
To put it bluntly, the previous Mei Shuang, despite having excellent handwriting and some education, absolutely did not possess such abilities.
—To foresee the future, is that a skill of an ordinary person?
Moreover, this Mei Shuang, who had never left her home, surprisingly understood Eastern Language. This further proved that this Mei Shuang was indeed someone extraordinary. No wonder she seemed so oblivious within the Cold Palace, not knowing this or that; it was not merely a loss of memory.
Thinking of this, when he looked at the Mei Shuang before him, there was an added sense of strangeness.
Furthermore, he was even more convinced that the person before him was just a stranger who shared the same appearance and name as Mei Shuang.
Hearing that he had let Kuranami Miyako go, Nangong Nuo surprisingly showed no shock or anger. Mei Shuang withdrew her thoughts and raised her eyes to look at the pensive Nangong Nuo. "You already knew?"
"If one could get drunk just from persuasion, I would have been assassinated countless times already..." Nangong Nuo poured himself a glass of wine and said lightly.
Mei Shuang lowered her head. "Letting go of the Imperial Criminal is my fault. How do you plan to handle it?"
At her words, Nangong Nuo paused with the cup at his lips, both amused and exasperated. "Since you know you are at fault, why ask me? The Imperial Criminal has escaped; you should return to the capital in place of the Imperial Criminal and await Xiao Luo's judgment..."
Seeing that Mei Shuang remained silent, Nangong Nuo slammed his cup down on the stone table. "Miss Mei Shuang, you can't be so naive, can you? You are already one of Xiao Luo's least favored individuals. Now you've let escape someone she wanted to interrogate; it's just giving her a reason to deal with you. How many heads do you think you have to spare for her to chop off?"
Mei Shuang raised her eyes, a hint of fear creeping onto her face.
"Moreover, who was it that kidnapped you back then, and who is it that you have let go now? The people of the Eastern Kingdom!" Nangong Nuo's playful demeanor shifted, his tone taking on a hint of severity. "When Xiao Luo set out to pacify the lands, only the Eastern Kingdom and its surrounding small nations were ignored due to their isolation across the Eastern Sea. Now, with the people of the Eastern Kingdom appearing frequently in the capital and occasionally probing military affairs, Xiao Luo has long regarded them as a hidden threat. This is also one of the reasons for my inspection of the eastern border. Now, both the kidnapping and your release are related to you, Miss Mei Shuang. If you were Xiao Luo, how would you view your relationship with the Eastern Kingdom?"
Mei Shuang's heart raced as she weakly retorted, "You know that the reason they kidnapped me had nothing to do with me..."
"But you were the one who let them go, weren't you? Miss Mei Shuang, while you're out there, you take no precautions. If the Emperor were to suspect your father, Chancellor Mei, of collusion with the enemy because of this, what do you think would happen?"
Nangong Nuo's tone became increasingly stern.
".......” Mei Shuang suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. She involuntarily stood up from where she was sitting, horrified and at a loss for words. "Uh, well..."
"Miss Mei Shuang, do you remember your suicide attempt in Heavenly Prison? If the Emperor truly wanted to pursue this matter, your father, Chancellor Mei, would have already faced punishment from him. Are you trying to bring more charges against your father with your actions?" Nangong Nuo said with a slight cold smile.
Mei Shuang fell silent.
The sky had brightened but was quickly overshadowed by dark clouds that hinted at impending snow.
Nangong Nuo ceased speaking. In the silence, only the sound of the wind could be heard whistling by.
Eventually, Mei Shuang turned back, biting her lip. "I am willing to return and explain the situation to the Emperor and ask for forgiveness..."
---
The temple was only a hundred miles from the capital. Nangong Nuo and Mei Shuang walked slowly along the way; what should have been a journey of a day and a half had stretched into nearly two days, leaving them still thirty miles from the capital.
The main issue was the sudden change in weather; halfway through the journey, heavy snow began to fall from the sky.
The snowfall came unexpectedly, with flakes swirling down without any sign of stopping. In just half a day, several centimeters had accumulated on the ground, leaving deep tire tracks and footprints everywhere.
Sitting alone on the upper floor of the inn, Mei Shuang gazed out through the long window at the white world outside, unable to shake thoughts of Kuranami Miyako, who had left. Given the road conditions, she wondered if Miyako would be able to return in time. Moreover, how would she explain her return to the Cold and Ruthless Emperor? The thought of a poor explanation potentially implicating the Left Chancellor, whom she had never even met, gave her a headache.
The charcoal fire made the upper floor warm and cozy, almost lulling her to sleep. Nangong Nuo had disappeared somewhere; she hadn't seen him all afternoon.
Suddenly, Mei Shuang heard a commotion downstairs, as if the inn's staff were trying to drive someone out.
She lazily glanced out the window and saw a young man in monk's robes being pushed out of the inn by some staff members.
The Young Monk looked flustered. Despite being forcibly removed from the inn, he clasped his hands together and politely pleaded, "As a monk, I consider all corners of the world my home. The wind and snow outside are fierce; I humbly request to stay for one night. Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. Amitabha."
It was clear that urgency filled his expression as he spoke.
The Innkeeper's Assistant was not willing to listen; after all, important guests were currently staying at the inn—people who could not be offended. Strangers were not allowed near, especially not monks of unknown origin.
"Go away!" one assistant waved his hand impatiently. "Go wherever you want..."
The Young Monk looked up at the sky and then back at the assistant, worry etched on his face but feeling helpless.
This was already the last inn in the vicinity. At previous inns, anyone who heard about a seriously ill monk seeking accommodation would consider it bad luck and refused to let him stay.
The Young Monk quietly recited "Amitabha" before turning to leave, when he suddenly heard a clear voice from the second floor, "Wait a moment."
Surprised, the Young Monk turned back and looked up at the window where Mei Shuang stood.
Her beautiful face and expressive eyes were fixed on him at that moment.
The Young Monk glanced at her and then lowered his head, saying, "Are you calling for this humble monk?"
As he spoke, Mei Shuang had already hurried down from the second floor. Just as she reached the door, a cautious voice from inside the shop said, "Esteemed Guest, it is said that a sick monk wishes to stay here; this cannot be allowed..."
Mei Shuang ignored him and walked straight up to the Young Monk, sizing up the tall monk before her.
He had a youthful face with well-defined features; his bright eyes shone beneath thick brows, and his high forehead and nose were striking. Looking closely, his hands were clasped together with distinct knuckles, long and fair. Despite the snowy weather, apart from the snow melting beneath his robe, his monk's attire was exceptionally clean and neat. His transcendent aura reminded Mei Shuang of a famous Karma Chagme from history.
"Are you the one who is ill?" Mei Shuang asked after her appraisal.
The Young Monk seemed a bit uncomfortable under her gaze; he quickly pressed his palms together, lowered his eyes, and softly replied, "It is my senior brother..."
"May I ask your master's name? Which temple do you practice at?"
"I am called Yun Kong, practicing at Dazhao Temple outside the city. I have just returned from traveling with my senior brother to give lectures. My senior brother fell ill while saving a sick man and unfortunately caught the disease himself, but no one could treat him. I had to go to the capital to seek a renowned doctor in hopes of curing my brother's illness. Unexpectedly, heavy snow has fallen, leaving me without a place to stay..." Yun Kong looked up at the sky with concern in his eyes.
Mei Shuang understood; it seemed he had contracted an infectious disease.
After a moment of contemplation, realizing that Nangong Nuo was not present, she took the initiative to say, "You and your senior brother can stay. I will have them prepare a room for you in the backyard. You can rest assured. If it’s contagious, then don’t come out..."
Yun Kong's eyes lit up with surprise upon hearing this. He looked at Mei Shuang and deeply bowed, saying, "Amitabha, thank you, benefactor!"
Mei Shuang's impulsiveness naturally displeased Nangong Nuo. He had just returned and heard about this matter; he was about to talk to Mei Shuang when he learned that she was in the backyard preparing medicine with that Young Monk.
This woman!
Nangong Nuo was so angry he gritted his teeth.
What time was it? Instead of thinking about herself, she was worrying about others?
With the prospect of entering the capital and the palace looming ahead, she was facing a significant challenge. If she made even a slight mistake and angered that capricious emperor, she would be in for punishment.
He had just received news from the palace that because the assassin had been let go, Xiao Luo was furious and ordered Nangong Nuo to bring Mei Shuang into the palace.
While Nangong Nuo was anxious on one side, in the backyard, Mei Shuang was discussing how to prepare medicine with Yun Kong.
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