V2C42

Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.

Translator: Anne

Editor: Miqi

Proofreader: Sal

Qiao Chu smiled softly.

“We can get in, don’t forget we still have two keys left. One of these must open one of the doors.“

Qiao Rong was shocked as grabbed Qiao Chu’s shoulders and said in a trembling voice, “You had already thought of this?”

Qiao Chu shook her head, “No, but I’m sure now. When I first saw the copper keys in the room I was doubtful. There was only one pillow lock in the room, but there were three keys. It didn’t make a lot of sense, so I kept that in the back of my mind.”

Qiao Rong nodded again, but immediately remembered something and hurriedly asked, “Do we have enough time? There are many rooms and we have to try each room, key by key as we just did.”

Instead of answering, Qiao Chu asked, “Do you remember which key was used just now?”

“Of course.” Qiao Rong said proudly.

Qiao Chu’s lips pursed, “Then, there are only two keys left to try. If there was only one person, there would not be enough time, but there are two of us. If you look at the keyring, the keys are not tied together.”

Qiao Rong looked at the keys in her hand. There was a gap in the keyring. She happily said, “You’re right, we can separate them and try.”

Qiao Chu took one of the keys thrown at her by Qiao Rong and said with a smile, “Since there are three keys, the front door is supposed to be locked as well. So the first key will open the first pillow lock, and the second will open the one inside.”

Qiao Rong quickly approached one of the doors, inserted the copper coin into the lock and said, “So this is why you called me. Although you didn’t understand the emperor’s idea completely, you caught the clue and knew that this round couldn’t be won alone.”

“This one isn’t the right one either,” said Qiao Chu who had just tried another lock, “When I was about to get the keys I thought of the ceremonial official words again. She had said that there could be two winners from each group. I wondered, why must it be two and not one? Is there something that requires two people?”

Qiao Rong questioned, “Why did you choose to work with me?”

Qiao Chu swallowed, her throat stinging and said faintly, “The Dongling Emperor is very devious. He saw from the very beginning that you and I are not on good terms, so he put us in the same group. He guessed we would be blinded by hatred and wouldn’t think of helping each other. I helped you because I wanted to let the people in Zhaoge know that although the North is a wild land, the people there are not fools. We have a right to decide our destiny.”

Qiao Rong was slightly shocked, she sneered, “Do you think because you helped me just now, I will treat you well?”

The two were talking as they put the keys in several pillow locks. They went by seven or eight at the same time.

“Think what you want,” Qiao Chu shrugged her shoulders and suddenly felt the key in her hands sinking into the lock. Her heart jumped, “Qiao Rong, come here.”

The door opened. Bookshelves, an incense burner, the scenery was familiar. At the front door, there was a pillow lock. It had been added after they changed rooms.

Qiao Rong looked around, surprised and happy, “This is the first room we stayed in, we are actually back.”

They started here, and are finishing/ending here.

Qiao Chu glanced at the sandalwood incense in the furnace and was startled, “Qiao Rong, open the lock immediately, the incense is about to burn out.”

Qiao Rong didn’t dare to take her time, she quickly stepped forward, the last key in her hand went inside the lock.