Chapter 170 Acquired

Fang Xiang accepted the gifts from the Qi people and instructed his trusted confidants to send them away.

One rare treasure after another was laid out before him. Fang Xiang looked at them and said to his servants, "You may leave."

The door opened and closed, and apart from Qiu Heng hiding behind the screen, only Fang Xiang remained in the room.

Qiu Heng concealed her aura and stared intently at the old man standing beside the desk.

He was rather thin, with graying hair and a well-groomed beard; an uninformed person would mistake him for a learned and refined scholar who was indifferent to fame and fortune.

Oh, Fang Xiang is indeed a man of great learning.

Qiu Heng saw Fang Xiang walk up to a hanging painting.

It was a painting of plum blossoms and rocks, the plum blossoms and the strange rocks complementing each other perfectly.

Fang Xiang stood in front of the plum blossom and rock painting for a moment, seemingly admiring it. Suddenly, he raised his hand and pushed the painting aside, revealing an identical painting, except that this plum blossom and rock painting was painted directly on the wall.

Qiu Heng watched as Fang Xiang pressed his hand on a plum blossom, then on a strange stone, and so on in different places. Suddenly, a slight sound was heard, and the wall opened.

Fang Xiang entered the secret room and returned shortly afterward, carrying a book in his hand.

He sat down at the desk, opened the book, and began writing while looking at the rare treasures brought by the people of Qi.

Qiu Heng suddenly realized that what Fang Xiang had taken out from the secret room was an account book.

Perhaps it was a ledger specifically for recording bribes received from the Northern Qi.

Qiu Heng clenched her hands, trying her best to calm herself down.

Fang Xiang put down his pen, seemingly waiting for the ink to dry, then picked up the account book and headed towards the secret room.

From Qiuheng's perspective, the entrance to the secret chamber is only wide enough for one person to pass through, so it's impossible to tell how big the interior is.

Before long, Fang Xiang came out, pressed the mechanism, and the wall returned to its original state. He then pulled the plum blossom and rock painting that had been pushed aside back over. No one could tell that there was another secret hidden in this elegantly furnished study.

Only then did Fang Xiang speak and call someone in.

"Let's put these into the archive."

"yes."

The rare treasures were carefully moved out of the study, and Fang Xiang sat at his desk, casually flipping through the books.

Qiu Heng took a thin tube out of her purse and blew on it gently.

The faint smoke from the cigarette mingled with the wisps of fragrance emanating from the incense burner in the corner of the study, drifting towards Fang Xiang.

Fang Xiang shook his head and fell asleep at his desk.

Qiu Heng slowly rose, her steps lighter than the smoke, and glided to the Plum Blossom and Stone Painting.

She observed for several days, and without Fang Xiang's permission, no one outside would dare to come in.

Push aside the plum blossom and rock painting to reveal a replica of the painting on the wall. Press the buttons one by one in sequence, and the wall will open, revealing an entrance to a secret room.

Qiu Heng glanced back at Fang Xiang, took a light breath, and stepped inside.

The secret room was dark, though there were no lights. The luminous pearls embedded in the walls shone brightly, making the room clearly visible.

Qiu Heng saw several account books and letters.

Qiu Heng quickly flipped through the pages, found the ledger that specifically recorded the Northern Qi gift list, put it in her bosom, and then took out one of the letters and put it away. She then left the secret room and restored everything to its original state.

Fang Xiang was still fast asleep, his head resting on his arm.

Qiu Heng walked to his side and stared at him for a moment, her eyes unfathomable. Finally, she took out a small porcelain bottle and brought it close to Fang Xiang's nose. Then she pushed the inkstone aside and rushed to the door with lightning speed, standing against the wall.

Hearing the noise, the servant outside tentatively called out, "Prime Minister?"

There was no immediate response, but the commotion was indeed quite loud. Considering that Prime Minister Fang was getting on in years, the servant was still worried and pushed open the door to go inside.

"Prime Minister—"

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Qiu Heng slipped out and disappeared into the deep night.

Fang Xiang woke up at this moment and glanced at the mess on the ground.

The servant hurriedly explained, "The inkstone fell to the ground..."

Fang Xiang nodded, glanced at the plum blossom and rock painting that combined strength and gentleness, and stood up, saying, "Clean it up."

With many affairs at court and the funeral arrangements at home, I really haven't had the energy to keep up these days.

I'm getting old.

As Fang Xiang left the study, he sighed to himself, then smiled as he thought of the treasures the people of Qi had sent him.

With those rare treasures that prolong life, what does it matter if you get old? You'll still live longer than those fools.

When Qiu Heng returned to her residence, she didn't light a lamp. She sat on the bed with her hand on her chest where the account book was hidden, and only then did she feel nervous.

Those were emotions she dared not and could not have in Fangxiang Study.

She thought it would be lucky if the Third Young Master Fang could be found within the forty-nine days, but it might drag on until after the forty-nine days, perhaps even until next year. As Madam Yang's longing for her son subsided, the intervals between using exotic incense to "summon his soul" had to be lengthened, and the variables became unpredictable.

I didn't expect that tomorrow is only the 31st day after the 14th, and I've already gotten my hands on some of the evidence!

Such luck—no, it's more than just luck.

Qiu Heng thought of the events that happened at that time, as recorded in the book.

Fang Xiang advised Emperor Jingping that General Huang Lin, who was guarding the border, harbored ulterior motives and urged the emperor to urgently summon General Huang to the capital.

This aroused opposition from some ministers, but after a stalemate of only two days, Emperor Jingping listened to the slander of the treacherous minister and recalled General Huang to the capital.

Then came the questioning, the execution...

It turned out that the treacherous minister had received a bribe from the people of Qi at this time.

Comparing history with reality, Qiu Heng had an indescribable feeling.

Anger, hatred, disappointment... all sorts of emotions intertwined and pulled, ultimately turning into excitement.

This was a feeling she had never experienced since she took on this heavy responsibility.

How could I be excited? The responsibility is as heavy as a mountain, there are incompetent rulers and treacherous officials, the common people are like ants, and the wealthy and powerful enjoy wine and meat.

Feeling resentful and powerless is normal.

But as Qiu Heng sat alone in the darkness, thinking about what the Prime Minister in the book had to do, and feeling the things hidden in her bosom, a fierce fire burned away the despondency in her heart, and a heroic spirit arose.

What is there to be afraid of? She has seen the future and lives in the present. With her bare hands and boundless courage, she has the opportunity to kill the infamous villains who will be remembered for eternity and to save the heroes whom countless generations have lamented.

Regardless of success or failure, Qiu Heng did her best, and her life was not in vain.

Daylight broke.

The sound of hurried footsteps rang out; Xue Han had received an urgent report from Hu Si.

"My lord, of the three who entered the Fang residence last night, one of them left the city as soon as the city gates opened, heading north... The two who remained in the city temporarily stayed at an inn, and one of them spoke a phrase in Qi language..."

"Qi people?" Xue Han raised an eyebrow and quickly gave instructions, "Two people in the city keep a close watch without alerting them. Capture the one who leaves the city and bring him back to the Imperial City Guard..."

"yes."

Hu Si accepted the order and left. Xue Han walked into the courtyard and fell into deep thought, gazing in the direction of the Prime Minister's residence.

Aheng moved into the Prime Minister's residence, and the people from Northern Qi also moved in.

Ah Heng, a man from Qi, was the prime minister.

Xue Han sat down at the stone table in the courtyard, ordered his men to bring him a chess jar, picked up a chess piece, and closed his eyes to recall the game.

They met by chance on the street, and Aheng asked him to investigate the playboy who killed her adoptive father. Later, they found out that the man was Han Wu's son, Han Ziheng.

Han Wu—Xue Han paused, his hand holding the chess piece.

Han Wu's connection to A Heng is Han Ziheng—no, it's not just that.

In a flash, a scene flashed through Xue Han's mind.

Han Wu was shot and killed outside the city. The entire city was placed under martial law. The girl in the carriage returning to the city was forced out by the city gate officials to undergo questioning.

He asked: "Did Miss Qiu Liu leave the city today?"

She replied: Go to Dafu Temple to offer incense.

He walked beside her and smelled a faint scent of blood.

The black stones, glistening, fell gently.