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墨書 Inktalez
The morning in the Forbidden City was shrouded in a thin mist. Lin Xueqing, Shen Mo Ting, and the Old Curator quickly approached Qianqing Palace, taking advantage of the fog for cover.
"There," Shen Mo Ting pointed to the side of the palace. "There are people."
Through the morning haze, several shadowy figures could be seen moving in front of the hall.
"They're looking for an entrance," the Old Curator whispered. "But they don't know its exact location."
Lin Xueqing pulled out a map. "According to the markings, the First Door should be..."
Her finger paused over a special symbol. It indicated a Dark Compartment within the main hall of Qianqing Palace.
"Behind the Imperial Throne," the Old Curator remarked. "It truly is the most dangerous place."
"How do we get in?" Shen Mo Ting asked. "The main entrance is guarded."
"The underground palace," Lin Xueqing suddenly said. "I remember there are passageways beneath Qianqing Palace."
The Old Curator nodded. "But the entrance is..."
"I know where it is," Lin Xueqing replied. "Follow me."
The three of them circled around to the back of the palace. In an inconspicuous corner, Lin Xueqing crouched down and brushed aside fallen leaves. A stone slab revealed a unique pattern.
"This is the entrance your mother discovered," the Old Curator said.
Lin Xueqing nodded and took out a jade pendant. The groove at the bottom of the pendant fit perfectly with the pattern on the stone slab.
"Be careful," Shen Mo Ting warned, scanning their surroundings.
Lin Xueqing pressed the jade pendant into the groove and gently turned it. A barely audible click echoed as the stone slab slowly moved aside, revealing a downward passageway.
"I'll go first," Shen Mo Ting said.
The underground chamber was shrouded in darkness. The beam of the flashlight illuminated the narrow passage, and a faint musty smell lingered in the air.
"This way," Lin Xueqing pointed in a direction. "It should lead to beneath the main hall."
The three of them advanced cautiously. The walls around them were covered in ancient patterns, resembling some kind of runes.
"Marks of the gatekeepers," Old Curator said. "This used to be their secret passage."
Suddenly, a noise echoed from above.
"They've discovered something," Shen Mo Ting whispered as he turned off the flashlight. "We need to move quickly."
Using the dim light, they quickened their pace. Ahead, a stone staircase led upward.
Lin Xueqing gently pushed open a hidden door and found herself behind a screen directly at the back of the Imperial Throne.
Voices could be heard from within the hall.
"They must be nearby," a strange voice said. "The map indicates..."
"Stop searching," another voice interrupted. "They’re coming."
Lin Xueqing's heart raced. Had they been discovered?
"Surround the entire hall," the first voice commanded. "No one is to approach the Imperial Throne."
Footsteps scattered in different directions.
"What do we do now?" Shen Mo Ting asked in a hushed tone.
Lin Xueqing took out the Peach Wood Comb and carefully examined its intricate patterns in the shadows. At a certain angle, the lines formed a unique design.
"Wait." She whispered, "Look at the armrest of the Imperial Throne..."
In the morning light, the carvings on the Imperial Throne Armrest flickered into view. The pattern was strikingly similar to the design on the Comb.
"I found it." The Old Curator said, "But how do we get over there?"
Just then, a commotion erupted outside the hall.
"What’s happening?" someone shouted.
"There's a fire!" came a distant cry, "The west side is on fire!"
Lin Xueqing glanced at the Old Curator, who nodded slightly. "It's chaos created by Director Chen's people."
"Here’s our chance," Shen Mo Ting said.
Taking advantage of the guards' distraction, Lin Xueqing quietly moved to the back of the Imperial Throne. Her fingers trembled as she aimed the Peach Wood Comb at the pattern on the armrest.
At that moment, footsteps approached from behind.
"Don't move." A cold voice rang out.
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