Chapter 147 Chapter 147 "My goodness, who is this?"...
Gongsun Hong disappeared after taking her to see Li Ya, perhaps because she was busy with her own affairs.
In order to wait for Gongsun Hong, the "expert" who was keeping her in suspense, Nan Qiongshuang stayed in Prince Ding's mansion until late at night.
The moon rose above the willows, and the lights in Prince Ding's mansion gradually dimmed. The radiant gardens were shrouded in darkness, and the arrogant nobles and the orderly servants all fell into a deep purple slumber. Only a single lamp burned faintly in Gongsun Hong's quarters.
Nan Qiong Shuang had been waiting for her in Gongsun Hong's room for a long time.
The night gradually deepened. She had been away from the palace for a whole day. Without her real self in Handan Palace, she felt uneasy and leaned her head on the table to support herself.
Wu Dao's voice suddenly emerged from the silence: "Nan Qiong Shuang."
She raised her head: "What?"
"Gongsun Hong asked Lunzhu to deliver a message to you, asking you to go to the Zuixian Pavilion beside the Bibo Pond for a chat."
Late at night, Prince Ding's mansion lit only a single row of lights along the road. Beyond the lights, there was only a deep darkness.
The fog knife in her ear guided her. She covered her face with a veil, deliberately avoided the light, and walked alone in the corner.
The Drunken Immortal Pavilion wasn't located in a bustling area. Gongsun Hong must have put a lot of thought into choosing this pavilion. Along the way, there were very few night patrols, and even fewer passing servants. She encountered no one along the way, which gave her some peace of mind.
Not far away, there was a faint sound of water waves.
She paused and listened attentively.
There seemed to be more than just the sound of gurgling water.
Interspersed with the sound of faint human voices, laughter, clapping of the table, boasting, and clinking of glasses.
She was startled, tucked the veil hanging on her ears tighter, and hid in the shadow of the bushes.
While using voice transmission to call out in secret: "Wu Dao, who is in front?"
Wu Dao: "Chang Zhong and his brothers."
"His brother?"
"A man called Xu Wei, who works under Chang Zhong."
She blinked twice, carefully distinguishing the voices in the dark.
"Are they both in the Drunken Immortal Pavilion?"
"It's not inside the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. It's quite far away. Be gentle and quick, just go around it. Those two are drunk."
Chang Zhong is drunk?
Once a man is drunk, even a hanged man with his neck tied tightly can still spit out something. She has been assassinating for many years and has extracted countless pieces of information from wine cups.
"Are both of them drunk?"
"I see, one is quite drunk, the other is not. Aunt, what do you want?"
“Who is deep and who is shallow?”
"Chang Zhongshen, Xu Weiqian. My dear aunt, what are you planning?"
"I'll go listen." She changed direction immediately and crept towards the two men from the bushes. "You keep watch for me."
Ever since Wu Dao was given the upper hand by her, he no longer dared to disobey her and was as obedient as a pug: "Okay, okay."
She crouched down, held her skirt tightly, and waded silently through the branches of the trees.
From a distance, you could smell the sour smell of alcohol.
Outside the overlapping branches and leaves, Chang Zhong and Xu Wei were both drunk with red faces. They slammed the table and boasted to each other, clinking glasses while boasting, and occasionally burped at each other, like the lowing of cows.
Even through her veil, she still covered her mouth and nose with her sleeves.
"If you ask me, my father is too... fucking biased. I fucking spoke up for my aunt, all because she's my father's sister, your own sister! And what happened? I spoke up for my aunt, and it turned out to be wrong! This fucking beautiful woman the emperor gave to my father and me was sent to the mansion, and I didn't even see her! Am I the son of a bitch?!"
"My General, you can't say that. The general wants to train you and values you, so he's punishing you. He treats you harshly so that he can pass on the Three Guards of Fuyu to you in the future." Xu Wei leaned forward and pressed down on the stone table, admonishing with earnest words, "Young General, please don't resent Prince Ding."
"Fuyu Three Guards? Fuyu Three Guards, do I even dare to think about it?!" Chang Zhong slammed the bamboo chopsticks on the table, almost knocking over the peanuts on the table. "Don't you have to give them all to that kid behind my back? Women, money, and military power too. I tell you, if the eldest son wasn't me but that kid, that old guy would never approve the title without an iron certificate!"
"Young General, please don't shout!" Xu Wei became more and more frightened as he listened. He had drunk less, so he was still more sober. He looked around hurriedly, "Be careful, there are ears on the other side of the wall!"
"What are you afraid of? It's the dead of night." Chang Zhong patted his belly and laughed, then let out another foul burp. "Tonight, there's no peace in their room! The beauties given by the emperor have been delivered, so how can they have the time to hang out outside? I can't even pee in a while!"
After he finished speaking, he burst into laughter. Xu Wei on the opposite side felt a chill all over his body and raised his fist to beg him to shut up.
"If you ask me, those women are... all bad." Chang Zhong's nose was red from drinking, and he knocked on the bowl with his chopsticks with his misty eyes. "Over the years, I've seen only... only two pretty women. One is Qu Huan from my father's room. The other is... Concubine Zhen in the palace. Fuck, when I become the emperor someday, I'll hold both of them in my arms. I'll fuck this one today and that one tomorrow!"
Another burst of wild laughter.
Nan Qiongshuang felt a bit absurd when someone suddenly called out her name.
"My good general!" Xu Wei stood up in panic and covered his mouth. "How can you say such things? General, you are drunk. Don't be exposed to the wind outside. Go back to your room and rest."
"I'm not drunk, what should I be drunk about... I'm not drunk!" He tried to be strong, but his voice became weaker and weaker. Finally, he fell on the stone table with a thud and was silent.
Xu Wei stood up straight, his whole body covered in sweat, and he felt a chill in the night wind.
After a long pause, he finally sighed, cleared the wine cups and dishes on the table, supported the unconscious Chang Zhong, dragged him staggeringly out of the table and chairs, and walked along the path beside the stone table.
In her vision, which was obscured by the layers of branches and leaves, there was only a stone table littered with cups and plates.
After the two of them had indeed gone far away, Nan Qiongshuang stood up.
Chang Zhong was just as she thought, lustful and greedy.
People who are lustful and greedy are very easy to exploit.
However, there seemed to be some issues with Xu Wei as well.
Nan Qiongshuang stood calmly in the wind that was filled with the sour smell of alcohol. The wind lifted her long hair a little, and her eyes were as calm as frost reflecting snow.
When he dragged Chang Zhong away from the bushes, she saw one thing clearly.
He had a sword on his waist.
The scabbard of the sword was inlaid with gold and jade, and was carved with flowers and paintings. It was rich and luxurious, and it was not something a soldier of his rank could afford.
Unfortunately, it was too dark at night, and she couldn't see the patterns on the sheath clearly.
She smoothed her hair and sighed.
"Wu Dao, go to Zuixian Pavilion."
The Zuixian Pavilion was situated on the shore of Bibo Lake. At that time, a silver moon, like a knife, hung high in the sky, and the night sky was a deep blue. Its clear light shone down from above, gathering on the lake, making the surface sparkle and shimmer.
The silhouette of Zuixian Pavilion was particularly dark at night. Inside, a long-haired woman, a golden phoenix hairpin in her hair, sat alone at a stone table, pouring tea.
Beside her, a tall, elegant, slender figure stood with its back to her, facing the lake, arms folded. Against the shimmering moonlight, details were unclear, but she could see broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long legs, their long legs slightly apart, like a bamboo or a pine tree.
Nan Qiong Shuang paused for a moment, blinked in disbelief, and then walked closer.
"I'm late," she said.
Gongsun Hong was twirling her teacup around. Seeing her coming, she smiled broadly, "It's really late. Look who I found for you."
The surface of the lake was rippling with silver light. The visitor slowly turned his head away when he heard the words.
Nan Qiong Shuang was so shocked that she stood there in a daze.
The person was silent, with her hair in a high ponytail and her eyes half-closed. She had a pair of gorgeous and majestic phoenix eyes, with the corners of her eyes sharply curved upwards, so sharp that it was almost sinister.
His edge is exposed, and it is hard to tell whether he is a man or a woman. Even a simple glance back is enough to make him look imposing.
It was indeed her.
Clouds cover the moon.
Gongsun Hong laughed: "Who are you? Who are I? Why did you make me wait so long? Why don't you apologize to me?"
"No need." Yun Manyue raised his hand to block it, then sat down on the stone bench. "Shuang'er and I are already familiar with each other."
Nan Qiongshuang stood under the pavilion and didn't say anything for a long time.
Yun Man Yue was one of the children who had entered the Wangsheng Gate for training with her. During the Hundred Man Battle Royale, only one person was chosen for training. She and Yun Man Yue met at the very last moment. By then, Yun Man Yue was at the end of her rope, a spent force, like a tattered piece of wood on the verge of falling apart. Yet, she, radiant with killing energy, still felt unsatisfied.
If the Rouge Hall Master had not been attracted by Nan Qiong Shuang's appearance and character that year and had not chosen her name from a high-ranking position, she would have died at the hands of Yun Manyue no matter how capable and courageous she was.
"You..." Nan Qiong Shuang was more than just surprised, she was almost amused by the astonishment. "Just to help me escape, you transferred Yun Man Yue to me?"
Yun Man Yue was a rare martial arts talent, rare only once in decades. Within the Seven Killers, no one could match her, including Mo Jiao, who could fight ten enemies on his own. To control her, the Wangsheng Sect had allocated only three teachings for her—in reality, they only sought peace of mind.
"I'm not trying to help you escape, I'm trying to help me succeed." Gongsun Hong fumigated her face with the hot steam from the tea. She had heard from somewhere that hot steam was good for beauty.
"The order from within the sect is to stay in seclusion in Luojing and come to help wherever needed." Yun Manyue spread his hands towards her and led her to a seat. "So, there's nothing wrong with that."
Nan Qiong Shuang felt a little uneasy every time she saw this God of Killing in female form. If the God of Killing were a man, he wouldn't be so scary, as men always have weaknesses. But the God of Killing in female form—
Noble and handsome, he kills without bloodshed and shows no mercy.
Although Yun Manyue serves Qi Sha, he has a charm similar to that of a psychological assassin - targeting women.
Nan Qiong Shuang felt a little awkward and sat a little further away.
"It's late at night, perfect for the two of you to explore the route. The Pipa Competition will be held in the Golden Phoebe Hall that day. I'll initiate the attack and exchange a few moves with her. After a few moves, the three Fuyu guards will inevitably be deployed, and Nan Qiongshuang will step onto the second-floor railing and spin out. You will wait by the second-floor window. When you see her flying towards you, rush out with her in your arms. Go to Wuyi Lane first and try to shake off as many people as possible. When there are only a few left, go to Fairy Lake."
Then he said to Nan Qiong Shuang, "I have prepared a boat for you two at Fairy Lake. There is a white lotus lantern at the bow. There are ordinary clothes in the boat. Once you enter the boat, change your clothes and turn off the lantern."
Yun Manyue said, "I will row your boat for you, so that you can hide among the tourists. If Chang Da searches all over Wuyi Lane and still wants to block Fairy Lake, you can retreat by water. If he doesn't, find a deserted place to go ashore, and I will escort you back to the palace."
"For now, it's still feasible." Nan Qiong Shuang supported her chin, "Why don't we go to the vicinity of the Golden Silk Phoebe Hall first and try this route again."
The three of them looked at each other and nodded.
So they went to the vicinity of the Golden Phoebe Temple.
Chang Da already held military power, with an army of over one hundred thousand waiting outside Shanhaiguan. Naturally, there were also many Chang family soldiers guarding the houses in the capital.
The group avoided the night watch soldiers and quietly jumped onto the glazed tile roof of the golden nanmu temple, lying on the tiles and trying to hide their bodies as much as possible.
In the night, Luojing City was a vast expanse of connected rooftops stretching endlessly. The streets were deserted and silent.
Yun Manyue looked out for a moment, then turned to Nan Qiongshuang and said, "I'll take you around first."
Nan Qiongshuang nodded.
While there were no defenders paying attention, the two men suddenly stood up, tapped their toes, and stepped lightly in the wind.
Yun Manyue's martial arts skills were extremely high. Unlike those big, strong men who were good at fighting but not at light martial arts, she was also very good at light martial arts. Holding her in his arms, he could run and leap like a swift in the night.
The street scene under my feet changed moment by moment. The restaurant that was in the distance just now had its sign right in front of me the next moment; the horseless carriage that was blurry just now was behind me in the blink of an eye.
She followed Yun Manyue's footsteps and stepped forward. The night wind blew into her nose. The two of them turned again and again and finally reached the end of Wuyi Lane.
At the end of the narrow alley, a wide open area appeared, which was the pitch-black Fairy Lake under the moonlight.
It was dark over Fairy Lake.
Once they reached Fairy Lake, there was no need to run anymore. Nan Qiongshuang stepped on the eaves, her legs and feet starting to feel weak, and she stumbled slightly to the side.
Yun Manyue raised his arm and let her hold it.
She had been running too fast just now and didn't notice anything. When she suddenly stopped, she realized that her heart was beating very fast, her throat was almost dry from panting, and even her lungs were aching slightly.
"Are you okay?" Yun Manyue stretched out his arms worriedly and protected her from behind.
She clutched her chest and nodded.
Over the years, she had been in danger of death several times while carrying out her duties. Not only had others poisoned her, she had also poisoned herself, and her body had long been damaged.
I could still do my work at the Paradise Hall, but I couldn't fight anymore. Even running was a stretch.
"I'm fine." She panted and suppressed the pain in her throat.
Yun Manyue shook his head slightly, and put his arm around her shoulders to steady her: "You always push yourself too hard."
Nan Qiongshuang looked at the clear moonlight, speechless for a moment.
"How have you been lately?" Under the moon, Yun Manyue's profile was handsome and elegant. "It's been a while since I've worked with you."
She couldn't help but think of the whole mess of events in the palace. Mao Linyan had regained favor, the situation with Concubine Chang was still uncertain, Emperor Jiaqing had offended the Regent, and Gu Huaijin...
She frowned and said, "Not bad." Then she asked, "Have you grown taller again?"
Yun Man Yue burst out laughing.
She was tall, almost as tall as Gu Huaijin. From a distance, she looked more imposing than a man.
Yun Manyue looked at her pale face and recalled the time a few years ago when they were on errands together. She hadn't been so out of breath after running a few steps. He wrapped his arm around her back and moved it again. "Are you really okay? I see you seem to be in worse shape."
She had no answer: "I'm fine."
Under the moonlight, Yun Manyue tilted his head and stared at her, his expression so serious that it was almost painful.
When they first met on the battlefield, she knew this woman was frail and beautiful, yet her heart was unbreakable. Therefore, even she, Yun Manyue, always looked up to her. Later, after working with her on several missions, she was even more surprised to find that she had a kind of open-mindedness and insight that was unmatched by ordinary people, and she couldn't help but feel pity for her.
"Shuang'er, you've always been too reckless in your work. Why do you have to do this?" Yun Manyue sighed. "You've already built up your body to its full potential. Even if you redeem yourself or become the head of the hall, what good will it do? A few failures won't matter."
Nan Qiong Shuang covered her chest and breathed slowly, not saying a word for a long time.
She has never been one to confide in her colleagues, but Yun Manyue is too strong, so strong that there is no need for intrigue, so she is always less wary of her.
"Speaking of the position of hall master," Nan Qiong Shuang asked, "what are your plans?"
"Men are helpless, and no one can beat me. I will become the leader sooner or later. What about you?"
"I intend to redeem myself."
Yun Manyue hummed, "That's one way. However, if that's the case, it's better for you not to take the position of deputy hall master. Otherwise, you'll have a burden on your shoulders, and I'm afraid they won't let you go."
"Indeed."
Yun Manyue continued, "I heard that you were competing with Miss Gongsun for the position of deputy hall master."
Nan Qiong Shuang muttered, "Not really. I just want to leave."
"I'm afraid you don't have the will to fight, but others do." Yun Manyue smoothed her hair down her back. "Miss Gongsun, you'd better be careful."
Nan Qiong Shuang remained silent.
"By the way, I have something for you."
Nan Qiong Shuang tilted her head: "What?"
Yun Manyue took out a long piece of silk from her bosom and handed it to her.
When she took it, she saw the milk-white satin, which gleamed with tiny lights under the moonlight. It felt extremely smooth to the touch, as if it was woven from special silk threads, and swayed like water waves when the wind blew.
"Yun Yi Jin," Yun Man Yue said, "Miss Gongsun's unique skill lies in the eighteen hidden weapons within the Nine Treasures Pipa. The most poisonous of these is called the Torrential Rain of Pear Blossom Needles. If this move is used, thousands of needles will be released simultaneously, as sudden as a rainstorm. Ordinary people will be unable to dodge and will only die. Your martial arts utilize silk thread, making it even more difficult to resist."
Nan Qiongshuang held the long satin in her hands, her expression heavy for a moment.
Yun Man Yue was right. The Torrential Rain Pear Blossom Needles counteracted her Spider Silk. If Gongsun Hong had murderous intent, she would have no chance of survival.
Even though the two of them had something close to friendship in Handan Palace, who could say for sure whether it was friendship or not?
Colleagues are colleagues.
"This is what I confiscated while on duty. The weaving and material of this Yunyi brocade are both exquisite, and its texture is so fine that it's difficult for a silver needle to penetrate. If you don't mind, I'll give it to you."
Nan Qiong Shuang lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment. She actually disliked accepting favors from her colleagues, and whenever she took something from someone, she always thought about returning the favor.
"Keep it. I don't like or excel at weapons like silk ribbons and water sleeves. If you don't want to take them, I can only hand them over to the Hidden Blade Division."
She pursed her lips and thought for a moment, then agreed: "In that case, thank you."
Yun Manyue suddenly smiled. She had admired her for a long time, so why would she need to thank her?
"Try it," she said. "You serious girls can swing these snot-like things so beautifully and accurately. I can only admire you."
Under the moonlight, Nan Qiongshuang casually waved away the cloud brocade, and the white silk immediately spread across the night sky with fragmented light, floating slowly in the night wind.
"They've all been training inside the sect since they were young. The Jile Hall is different from you, the Qi Sha Hall. The people in the Qi Sha Hall practice martial arts with the utmost concentration." She casually raised her hand to take it, and the satin obediently and cleverly slipped into her palm piece by piece. "Those in the Jile Hall don't expect to achieve great martial arts skills. They practice martial arts for emergencies, striving to master a little bit of everything so they can use it whenever they need it."
As soon as she moved, Yun Manyue was worried that she would fall and fall, so he put his arm around her waist and sighed as he looked up:
"It's really beautiful. As expected, these girls' weapons still need to be in your hands..."
The word "li" has not yet been finished.
The clouds and the moon disappeared.
The space beside her was suddenly empty and silent.
Nan Qiong Shuang shuddered, as if something had penetrated into her bone marrow through her tailbone, catching her shivering unexpectedly.
Suddenly, something stuck to my back.
Her feet suddenly stepped on empty air and she fell backward.
Suddenly, I bumped into something behind me.
A low gasp came from above her head, and her arms were suddenly tied around her waist. She felt a sudden force on her shoulders, and something rested on them. A hot breath suddenly blew on her neck.
Gu Huaijin rested his head on her shoulder, bent down, and rubbed his forehead against her ear.
"My goodness, who is this?"
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