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墨書 Inktalez
"Miss, please do not overthink. It is better for us servants not to pry into the master's affairs," Nangong Shuang advised on the surface, but inwardly she had already resolved to investigate Lord Qian's study tonight.
Qian Ruyi pouted, "You're just like the others, always saying I'm being foolish. But it's true, the study is heavily guarded; not even a fly could get in."
"Heavily guarded?" Nangong Shuang asked nonchalantly.
"The Chief Steward, Qian De, has people watching it day and night," Qian Ruyi sighed. "I heard there’s a secret chamber in my father's study that holds many treasures."
Nangong Shuang took note of this information, realizing that tonight's mission would be even more perilous.
As night deepened, after serving Qian Ruyi to sleep, Nangong Shuang quietly returned to her own room. She did not light a lamp but instead changed into a set of night clothes by the moonlight, tying her black hair loosely to facilitate movement.
From her bosom, she took out a small porcelain vial containing her carefully concocted "Dreamless Powder," which could induce deep sleep without the victim's awareness. She also concealed several silver needles within her hair and sleeves for emergencies.
By the time it was past the middle of the dog hour, Qian Mansion was enveloped in silence. Nangong Shuang pushed open a window and leaped lightly onto the courtyard wall. She first scanned her surroundings to confirm there were no watchers before stealthily moving along the roof like a shadow deeper into Qian Mansion.
The mansion was vast, with buildings arranged closely together. The study was located in the northwest corner of the estate, an independent two-story building surrounded by gardens—both elegant and discreet. Nangong Shuang crouched behind a large tree, observing the situation around the study.
Just as Qian Ruyi had said, there were guards patrolling around the study who appeared quite alert, occasionally glancing around. Such stringent defenses only strengthened Nangong Shuang's resolve to investigate—the study must hold significant secrets.
She patiently waited for an opportunity during the guard change. About fifteen minutes later, it came. Two guards gathered together for a brief conversation; one left to change shifts while the remaining guard yawned, his vigilance noticeably lowered.
Seizing the moment, Nangong Shuang descended from the tree and glided along the wall like a wraith. Using the shadows of the building for cover, she silently circled to the back of the study and discovered a half-open window.
"What a pleasant surprise," Nangong Shuang murmured to herself as she lightly leaped through the window.
Inside, the study was pitch dark except for the moonlight streaming in and casting mottled shadows on the floor. The air was filled with the scent of ink and a hint of sandalwood. Standing still to allow her eyes to adjust to the darkness, she listened intently for any sounds before beginning her search.
The study was elegantly arranged with towering bookshelves lining all four walls filled with various books. In the center stood a large rosewood desk adorned with writing supplies and several account books. To one side was a low cabinet displaying some exquisite antiques; on the other side were a tea table and several chairs, presumably for receiving guests.
Nangong Shuang did not recklessly disturb anything on the desk but instead observed the layout of the entire study first. As a wealthy merchant, Lord Qian would surely keep important documents securely stored rather than carelessly placed about. If there were indeed a secret chamber, it would likely be cleverly concealed.
She walked slowly along the bookshelves, her fingers lightly brushing against rows of book spines in hopes of discovering something unusual. Most were account books and business texts, along with some collections of poetry; it seemed Lord Qian was also quite cultured.
As she turned to the third row of bookshelves, Nangong Shuang keenly noticed something amiss—the arrangement of this row differed from others; it appeared disordered but actually followed a pattern. Every third book had its spine slightly protruding, forming a hidden design.
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