Chapter 150 Why hasn't Xue Han come to propose marriage yet?

Xue Hancai had just helped solve a big problem, so the old lady couldn't complain. Instead, she vented her anger on her granddaughter: "If he hadn't mentioned it, why didn't you ask? Where's your usual quick wit?"

"Shouldn't women be more reserved?"

The old lady rolled her eyes: "You're not reserved when you should be, and you're being overly reserved when you shouldn't be!"

If she were only concerned with being reserved, she wouldn't have secretly gone to find Xue Han.

Worried that the old lady would urge Xue Han to propose marriage, Qiu Heng quickly said, "In matters of marriage, Xue Han will definitely listen to Eunuch Xue. Perhaps the two of them have not yet reached an agreement, or perhaps Eunuch Xue feels that there is no rush."

The old lady became even more uneasy upon hearing this: "This is not delaying you."

Qiu Heng smiled and said, "Granddaughter is still young. Grandmother, you see, Xue Han is a capable man. Even if my relationship with him hasn't gotten past his adoptive father yet, there's still plenty of time to work things out. Maybe in a couple of years, things will fall into place naturally."

"What if it doesn't work out?"

"Compared to the original plan of becoming a concubine in the Prime Minister's mansion, I haven't lost anything by not succeeding. I will only be seventeen years old in two years, and it won't be too late for my grandmother to find me another good match."

The old lady looked at Qiu Heng with a strange expression: "What you said makes a lot of sense."

But if she can analyze things so rationally, does that mean this girl has no feelings for Xue Han?

Thinking of the handsome young man she had seen in the teahouse, the old lady shook her head.

That blind brat.

"Alright, at least we've gotten through this ordeal. From now on, try to avoid causing trouble and behave yourself."

It's one thing to swallow your pride and ask for help, but you can't exactly beg the man to come and propose marriage right away. Whether she and Xue Han can get together in the future depends on Liu Ya's fate.

"Go back and rest," the old lady said, serving tea to usher us away.

"Granddaughter takes her leave," Qiu Heng said, but didn't move.

"Is there anything else?"

Qiu Heng bowed gracefully and said, "Grandmother, thank you."

The gratitude is for the old lady's deep love for her granddaughter.

Although it ruined her plans, she should still express her gratitude so that the old lady would know that her efforts had not been in vain.

In the future, when other young ladies of the Earl's mansion encounter trouble, the old lady will not feel disheartened and will help those who truly need it.

"Alright, you may leave."

The old lady waved her hand, seemingly unconcerned, but after Qiu Heng left, she couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth.

That brat still has a conscience.

"Chuncao, go to the kitchen and tell them to stew a pork hock." The old lady, who had been so upset after arguing with Yongqingbo that she could barely eat, finally felt better and gave the order to her head maid.

Chuncao went and returned, bringing news: "Madam, I heard that the old master didn't eat much for lunch."

The old lady pursed her lips: "Whatever."

It was only afternoon when Qiu Heng received Fang Rui's invitation, asking her to go to the Prime Minister's residence the next day.

Accompanied by her maid—Qiu Heng's gaze lingered on the three words "post" and she smiled.

Despite coming from a scholarly family and being the head of all officials, he had the audacity to order other women from different households to bring their maids to make pastries. Clearly, he wasn't shameless enough to commit so many acts of treason and harm to the people.

But for Qiu Heng, going to the Prime Minister's residence was something she couldn't ask for more.

"What? The Prime Minister's residence has sent another invitation for you?" The old lady's face darkened when Qiu Heng mentioned it the next morning.

"Grandmother, don't worry. It was the Prime Minister's family that proposed that was inappropriate. We can't change it again."

"Then what do you want me to do?" The old lady sensed something was wrong. "Could it be that that old nanny Su's face is so badly ulcerated that it won't heal?"

Qiu Heng couldn't say that she made the pastries for Fang Zhou, so she casually said, "Perhaps she felt that her granddaughter had only visited a few times, and that wasn't enough to vent her anger."

The old lady shook her head: "This is outrageous!"

"Grandmother, don't be angry. After all, we can't offend the Prime Minister's residence. I'll just go out for some fresh air."

The old lady's lips twitched: "Don't even mention going out for some fresh air, you'll only cause trouble as soon as you step outside. Then go ahead, but remember not to cause any more trouble, and when you get to the Prime Minister's residence, just pretend you're mute."

"Granddaughter understands."

After Qiuheng left, the old lady held her teacup and sighed.

Why hasn't Xue Han come to propose marriage yet? It's really shortening Liu Yatou's lifespan by keeping her in the Marquis's mansion!

Inside the carriage heading to the Prime Minister's residence, Fangzhou stared at Qiuheng with a dark expression.

Qiu Heng smiled and asked, "What's wrong?"

Fangzhou turned his face away and didn't say anything.

Qiuheng reached out and tickled Fangzhou.

Fangzhou was most afraid of this, and said angrily, "It's always like this!"

"Then why are you angry?" Qiu Heng asked with a smile.

Fangzhou wasn't one to hold back, and said with a straight face, "So, you meant that if we stayed in the Prime Minister's residence together, we would become the concubines of that Third Young Master Fang. If I had known you had this plan, I wouldn't have become a courtesan. I would rather not seek revenge than watch you humiliate yourself."

"Don't be angry, it just didn't work out."

"If it works out, will you really submit to that Young Master Fang?" Fangzhou's eyes reddened. "If that happens, I won't have the face to see my husband and wife even after I die..."

Fangzhou, who had been holding back for so long, finally couldn't take it anymore. He hugged Qiuheng and cried softly, "Let's not seek revenge anymore, okay?"

If revenge requires the girl to pay such a high price, even if she succeeds, she will not be happy.

"That Young Master Fang is going to die," Qiu Heng whispered in Fang Zhou's ear.

The idea of ​​becoming a concubine has frightened Fangzhou. If nothing is said, and something is done later, Fangzhou will inevitably start to overthink and feel uneasy.

Fangzhou's eyes widened suddenly, staring at Qiuheng in astonishment: "What did you say, Miss?"

Qiu Heng's voice was soft and calm: "Young Master Fang won't live much longer. Being a concubine is just an empty title. I originally planned to stay in the Prime Minister's residence under this identity, find evidence of Prime Minister Fang's treason, and then ask Xue Han for help to expose Prime Minister Fang's crimes to the Emperor..."

Even if Emperor Jingping were incompetent, he could not tolerate someone who colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country. As the whistleblower, and a pitiful woman forced into becoming a concubine by the Prime Minister's household through their power, she could still escape unscathed even if she achieved nothing. At the very least, Emperor Jingping had already promised to grant her one wish in front of high-ranking officials and nobles.

The only loss was that she became a concubine in the eyes of the world, a grandson of a disgraced official, pitiful, pathetic, and despicable, and no one wanted to marry her.

"How did you know that Young Master Fang was going to die?" Fangzhou's head was buzzing, and a chill ran down her spine.

“I can’t say,” Qiu Heng said earnestly, “but he really is going to die.”

"Phew—" Fangzhou sighed, then thought again and still felt something was wrong. "If that's really the case, aren't you afraid the Prime Minister's mansion will torment you? Bearing the reputation of bringing bad luck to the Third Young Master Fang the moment you enter the door—"

Qiu Heng sighed softly, "Fangzhou is truly clever."

Originally, the fourth daughter, Qiu Fu, was given by the Earl of Yongqing to the Third Young Master Fang as a concubine. However, the Third Young Master Fang died shortly after she entered the household, and she died of grief.

Words don't lie, but people do. The so-called heartbreak and suicide is clearly an excuse; the truth is probably that he was tortured to death out of anger.

“I have a solution.” Qiu Heng grasped Fang Zhou’s hand. “If I can do it, then I have a way to solve it. Don’t you believe me, Fang Zhou?”

Fangzhou pursed her lips and nodded: "I believe you."

"Miss, we've arrived at the Prime Minister's residence," came the voice of the coachman, Uncle Zhang.

Qiu Heng lifted the carriage curtain and looked up at the imposing gate plaque of the Prime Minister's residence.

Since the original plan failed, let's take advantage of the passing of Young Master Fang to start a new plan.

With this chapter out, everyone will inevitably feel that it's an attempt to make amends for what was said yesterday. This is why Liu Ye doesn't like to talk about things that are off-topic. Actually, this is a draft that existed before those things were said.