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墨書 Inktalez
"Where are we now?" Nangong Shuang looked around and asked.
Qiao Er recognized the direction. "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 transporting 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 was forthcoming, sharing many details about the daily life and customs of the Nangong Family. As she described it all so vividly, Nangong Shuang's doubts gradually diminished.
"What about the young lady of the Nangong Family?" Nangong Shuang asked casually. "You mentioned she cares for you?"
A hint of sadness flickered 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 concealed 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, confirming that Qiao Er was indeed from the Nangong Family and had recognized her identity.
"Did she... survive the massacre?" Nangong Shuang asked tentatively.
Qiao Er looked intently at her, whispering, "I don't know. That night was too chaotic; I was taken away by a servant and couldn't see what happened to her in the end. But I have always believed she must be alive because she is the smartest person in the Nangong Family and would surely find a way to escape."
Nangong Shuang fell silent for a long time before finally sighing softly. "Qiao Er, you’ve 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’ve 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 away her tears and nodded. "Yes, Miss."
The two continued on their way as Qiao Er quietly recounted her experiences over the past decade. It turned out 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 one day to uncover the truth 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 apprentice at Jinyi Tower and an old 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 there was no time to delve deeper given their urgent situation.
Before long, 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, and Qiao Er immediately changed her tone, pretending to be a drunken villager making a ruckus outside the gate. The two guards were annoyed by her noise and approached to drive her away.
Seizing this opportunity, Nangong Shuang quietly slipped through the city gate and hid nearby, waiting 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 asked in a low voice.
Nangong Shuang pondered for a moment before making a decision. "First, we should return to the Qian Mansion and not alert anyone. Three days from now, I will 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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