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墨書 Inktalez
Nangong Shuang smiled slightly, "Yes, I came out to do some errands and take a break at the same time."
After the waiter left, she took a sip of tea and scanned the street. Just then, a familiar figure caught her eye—the old butler from the Guo Residence! He was a man nearing sixty, dressed in a gray long gown, with a kind face. At that moment, he stood in front of a grocery store across the street, seemingly selecting some items, but his eyes occasionally darted toward the Tea House.
"Indeed, someone is following me," Nangong Shuang thought with a start, though her expression remained calm as she continued to sip her tea.
Why would Old Butler Guo be following her? Was it at the behest of the master of the Guo Residence, or did he have another motive? Guo Chunyi had always treated her well; could there be some deception involved? With many thoughts swirling in her mind, Nangong Shuang decided to test the waters.
She got up, paid for her tea, and left the Tea House, deliberately heading toward the bustling market. Sure enough, the old butler set down his items and leisurely followed her at a distance.
Nangong Shuang smirked inwardly as she walked on without hesitation, crossing several busy streets before suddenly turning into a secluded alley. This alley was winding and deep; she had discovered it during her previous explorations of the capital as a shortcut.
Once deep into the alley, Nangong Shuang quickened her pace and ducked into an inconspicuous little grocery store, swiftly exiting through the back door. She took a long detour and returned to the entrance of the alley, hiding around the corner to wait for the old butler's appearance.
Before long, Old Butler Guo emerged from the alley, panting and looking puzzled; he had clearly lost track of his target. He stood at the mouth of the alley for a moment, scanning around before finally sighing and turning to leave.
Nangong Shuang let out a quiet sigh of relief but felt even more perplexed. Why was Old Butler Guo following her? Did the Guo Family suspect her identity? While pondering this, she suddenly felt a burning gaze on her back.
Her heart tightened as she pretended to adjust her clothing, seizing the opportunity to glance back. Across the street on the second floor of an inn stood a figure in white, leaning against the window and gazing in her direction.
The person wore a moon-white long gown and had a handsome face adorned with a contemplative expression—it was none other than Xiao Zhongyan!
"Xiao Zhongyan... is he also monitoring me?" Nangong Shuang's heart sank while her face remained impassive.
Feigning ignorance, she turned and walked toward the direction of the southern pharmacy. Inside, however, tumultuous waves surged within her—Xiao Zhongyan and Old Butler Guo, two unrelated individuals were simultaneously watching her; this was no coincidence! Had her movements already been exposed? Was her identity compromised?
Along the way, Nangong Shuang frequently changed directions, traversing several crowded streets before slipping into quiet alleys in an attempt to shake off any potential followers. Finally convinced that she had evaded surveillance, she slowed her pace and headed toward the pharmacy.
The Hui Chun Tang in southern Beijing was a renowned old pharmacy known for its complete selection of authentic medicinal materials despite its small size. As Nangong Shuang pushed open the door, a fragrant aroma wafted through the air, invigorating her senses.
"What medicinal materials does Miss wish to purchase?" A young clerk greeted her enthusiastically.
Nangong Shuang produced a list. "I would like these; please have your shopkeeper select them personally."
The clerk glanced at the list and paused slightly. "Miss has good taste; these are all precious medicinal materials that most people wouldn't know to ask for."
Nangong Shuang smiled faintly. "It was instructed by my master; he is quite particular about medicinal materials."
The clerk nodded and went off to find the shopkeeper while Nangong Shuang wandered around the store examining various herbs.
"Thyme, Fu Ling, Purple Sage... these are all very fresh; it seems this pharmacy lives up to its reputation," she murmured to herself as her fingers brushed over box after box of herbs.
Just as she focused on selecting materials, the wind chimes at the door jingled again as another customer entered. Without lifting her head, Nangong Shuang continued to browse through the herbs.
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