Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
In the night, a figure quietly awaited her arrival...
Late at night, the sky was overcast, and flashes of lightning occasionally illuminated the outline of Qian Mansion's courtyard. Nangong Shuang sat by the window, listening to the sound of raindrops hitting the bamboo leaves outside, lost in thought.
Two days had passed since her chance encounter with Xiao Zhongyan at the apothecary, and the profound words “The fragrance of plum blossoms comes from bitter cold” still echoed in her ears. The true intentions of Xiao Zhongyan, Guo Chunyi's secret discussions with him, and the upcoming Guanyin Temple Meeting all left her feeling restless.
Suddenly, a rapid knocking at the door interrupted her thoughts.
“Come in,” Nangong Shuang said, retracting her gaze and turning toward the door.
Qiao Er rushed in, drenched from the rain, clearly having hurried back. Her face was lit with an unmistakable mix of excitement and anxiety. “Sister! I... I saw Chen Bo!”
“What?” Nangong Shuang stood up abruptly, disbelief widening her eyes. “What did you say? Chen Bo? The old steward of the Nangong Family?”
Qiao Er nodded vigorously, wiping rainwater from her face. “It’s him! I saw him with my own eyes; there’s no mistake!”
Nangong Shuang grasped Qiao Er's hand tightly. “But he’s supposed to be... I saw him at the Execution Ground…”
“I thought he was dead too!” Qiao Er said eagerly. “But just now, while I was gathering information in the west of the city, I passed by Zui Xian Lou and saw an old man sitting in a corner on the second floor through the window. That silhouette, that white hair, and how he held his tea—I recognized him instantly as Chen Bo!”
Nangong Shuang's heart raced. Chen Bo had been the most loyal servant of the Nangong Family since her grandfather’s time. If he were still alive, it would be a crucial lead in uncovering the past of the Nangong Family!
But she quickly became cautious again. “Are you sure it was him? At the Execution Ground, I clearly saw him fall…”
Qiao Er bit her lip. “I can’t be completely certain, which is why I didn’t approach him directly. But I found a spot to observe from a distance and saw him get up to leave. That distinctive limping gait and his habit of stroking his beard—there’s no doubt it was Chen Bo!”
Nangong Shuang's heart raced faster. Chen Bo’s limp was an old injury he sustained while saving Nangong Laoye when he was young; very few people knew about it. And that habit of stroking his beard was indeed Chen Bo’s signature gesture—Qiao Er could not have mistaken him.
“Where did he go?” Nangong Shuang asked urgently.
“I followed him from a distance as he headed west out of the city to an abandoned temple on the outskirts,” Qiao Er replied. “I didn’t dare get too close; I only returned after confirming he entered the temple.”
Nangong Shuang's mind raced with thoughts. Chen Bo was alive! Was it possible that the one executed at the Execution Ground was an imposter? Why had he appeared now? Was it coincidence or intentional?
“Sister, should we go see him?” Qiao Er asked cautiously. “The rain is getting heavier outside.”
Nangong Shuang glanced out at the dark night sky and pouring rain, recalling her appointment with Xiao Zhongyan in two days. She hesitated for a moment. What if it were a trap? What if someone was using Chen Bo to lure her into danger?
But then she thought again—if Chen Bo truly lived, he might know more about the truth behind the annihilation of the Nangong Family and perhaps even where to find the Heavenly Fragrance Life-Extending Technique. This opportunity was one she could not afford to miss.
“I will go,” Nangong Shuang said firmly, rising to retrieve a bundle from under her bed. She quickly unwrapped it and took out a set of dark clothing for stealthy travel. “You stay here and keep a close watch on Qian Mansion’s movements. If I haven’t returned in three hours, follow our plan.”
Qiao Er grew anxious. “It’s too dangerous for you to go alone in this heavy rain! Let me accompany you!”
Comment 0 Comment Count