Chapter 136 The Thief is a Woman

Qiu Heng hesitated: "Does Miss Cheng want me to apologize?"

"Yes, don't act impulsively."

Cheng Susu couldn't believe what she was hearing: "Rui'er!"

Fang Rui winked at Cheng Susu: "Susu, Miss Qiu is still a young lady in her boudoir. What you said was a bit too much. Apologize to her."

Cheng Susu bit her lip and remained silent.

Qiu Heng's hand holding the hairpin twitched, making Fang Rui's heart jump, and she couldn't help but push Cheng Susu.

Cheng Susu gritted her teeth and slightly curtsied to Qiu Heng: "Sixth Miss Qiu, I'm sorry, I spoke without thinking. I hope you won't take it to heart."

Qiu Heng knew when to stop and put the hairpin back in her hair.

Fang Rui secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Miss Fang, Granny Su has an injury on her face and cannot work. Besides applying medicine for her, is there anything else I can do? Like, can I cover for her?"

"No need," Fang Rui immediately refused.

"Since you don't need me to do anything else, then I'll take my leave."

"Send Miss Qiu out," Fang Rui instructed her maid.

One of the maids felt it was unsafe, so she arranged for two.

After Qiu Heng walked away, Cheng Susu finally let out her pent-up grievances: "Rui'er, how did you get manipulated by Qiu Liu? Let her die! I don't believe she would actually dare to die!"

Fang Rui's expression darkened slightly: "What if she dies?"

"How could that be? She's just trying to scare you."

“I’m talking about what if. This is my home, and even if it’s just a possibility, I can’t afford to lose face. Besides, her maid is so crazy, who knows if she might be even crazier than the maid?”

"I knew it! Like master, like servant!" Cheng Susu said, her face dark. Though she didn't say it aloud, she felt a bit resentful towards Fang Rui.

It's pointless to disregard her feelings just for the sake of "what if".

Several noble ladies arrived at the Prime Minister's residence early in the morning. They had been waiting for people and searching for others, and by this time they were exhausted, so they all took their leave.

Fang Rui sent someone to summon Granny Su.

"Miss, you're looking for me?" Granny Su curtsied.

"Sixth Miss Qiu will come again tomorrow to apply medicine to Granny Su. Granny Su, please be polite to her."

Granny Su was stunned.

She had previously assumed the young lady meant to make things difficult for the girl; had she misunderstood?

"Young lady, what you mean by being polite is—"

"It means exactly what it says." Fang Rui frowned, reluctant to say it but having to, "Qiu Liu is a crazy person. It's fine if he's elsewhere, but we have to be careful in our mansion."

"This servant understands."

Qiu Heng returned to Lengxiang Residence, went to the study in the west room, and took out paper and pen to carefully sketch.

Fangzhou, who was grinding ink nearby, looked at it curiously and asked, "Miss, what is this painting?"

After the two spoke openly, Qiu Heng had no need to hide anything from Fang Zhou: "It's a partial layout map of the Fang family mansion."

She didn't draw the scenery in the conventional way; some of the lines and smudges were unrecognizable, so it's no wonder that Fangzhou couldn't recognize it.

Qiu Heng picked up the drawing paper and looked at it for a long time before saying to Fang Zhou, "I'm going out tonight."

"Is the young lady going to the Fang family?" Based on the conversation just now, Fangzhou naturally came to this guess.

"Yes, I'll go scout ahead first."

Fangzhou looked worried: "Miss—"

"Don't worry, I have experience."

Fangzhou thought about how many times Qiuheng had gone out at night and relaxed a little: "I'll wait for you to come back, Miss."

As night deepened, Qiu Heng, familiar with the route, left the Earl's residence and headed straight for the Prime Minister's residence.

The bright moon shines in the sky, and the Prime Minister's residence under the hazy moonlight resembles a sleeping giant, its high walls imposing.

Qiu Heng stood still outside the wall.

This was the most suitable place she had chosen to infiltrate the Prime Minister's residence after walking through the area during the day.

Taking a deep breath, Qiu Heng leaped onto the wall, and almost as her expression changed, the bell rang.

The crisp sound of the bell broke the silence of the night, sounding particularly jarring.

"Thief!"

After a low shout, several black figures rushed towards this place from various walls and rooftops.

Without hesitation, Qiu Heng jumped back over the wall and ran away as fast as she could.

She was skilled in agility and quickly shook off the pursuing guards from the Prime Minister's residence, only to see two familiar figures appear ahead of her.

Xue Han and Hu Si!

With a numb expression, Qiu Heng leaped onto the roof and ran forward.

Despite it being just a brief glance, Xue Han inexplicably felt a sense of familiarity.

It's that petty thief we've clashed with twice!

Xue Han also leaped onto the roof of a residential building, chasing after the person in front of him.

Hu Si jumped up and down on the spot, then gave up on joining.

Never mind, let him climb onto the roof and wait until it's light before handing him over to the adults.

The tiles underfoot made a slight noise, and a whooshing sound came from behind. Qiu Heng quickly dodged to the side.

She had already experienced firsthand how fast and accurate Xue Han's hidden weapons were.

The flying knife grazed past her body. Qiu Heng thought to herself, "Oh no!" There was a missing tile where her foot landed, and she missed a step.

By the time he regained his balance, Xue Han had already caught up.

"It's you." The boy's resolute voice rang out, as cold and clear as frost and snow in the night with the cold moon hanging high.

Qiu Heng didn't say a word, but swung her palm out.

Doesn't Xue Han sleep? He goes to the government office during the day and wanders the streets at night?

This job as the Imperial City Envoy is far too demanding.

Qiu Heng was filled with helplessness, and her palm strikes became even more ferocious.

Xue Han leaned in, wary of the thief slipping away again.

The two sparred on the rooftop. Qiu Heng caught a glimpse of Hu Si getting closer and closer below. Knowing that the longer the fight dragged on, the worse it would be, she had no choice but to resort to her old tricks.

Xue Han gave a silent, cold laugh, grabbing the ankle that was about to kick him in the groin.

He had dealt with countless people, but this petty thief was the most unscrupulous. Fortunately, he had learned his lesson once and was on guard.

Feeling the force coming from her ankle, Qiu Heng decisively twisted her body and took the initiative to move closer to hug Xue Han's waist.

Xue Han, wary that she might be hiding something dangerous, quickly dodged away.

These events, though seemingly lengthy, actually unfolded in the blink of an eye. Neither was willing to concede the upper hand, and they both tumbled towards the roof. Out of instinct, neither made a loud noise as they fell, but Xue Han was momentarily stunned.

Qiu Heng seized this brief opportunity, nimbly breaking free from Xue Han's control like a fish, and swiftly disappeared.

Xue Han knew he couldn't catch up, and stared intently at the departing figure.

The thief turned out to be a woman.

After jumping from the rooftop back onto the street, Xue Han's mind was still on the thief he hadn't caught.

"Sir, you didn't catch anyone?" Hu Si walked up to Xue Han, somewhat incredulous.

Are petty thieves these days so capable that even adults can't catch them?

Xue Han pursed his thin lips slightly, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger: "Still that little thief."

"Oh, it's him. No wonder." Hu Si suddenly realized, thinking to himself that it was good that his effort to climb the roof hadn't been in vain.

"She's a female thief," Xue Han murmured.

It's rare to see a woman with such skill and such a shameless attitude.

Hu Si was utterly astonished: "What did you say, sir? A female thief?"

Xue Han ignored Hu Si and walked forward silently.

Hu Si, standing beside him, asked with deep concern, "Sir, how did you know that little thief was a female thief?"

"Feel."

Hu Si was even more confused: "That thief was dressed entirely in black and didn't even show his face, how could I sense it?"

Xue Han glanced at Hu Si expressionlessly, then changed the subject: "Starting tomorrow, we will increase nighttime patrols."