Chapter 206 A Promise Made Today

Xue Han was shocked: "Aheng, don't be impulsive. Everything in the palace, including food and supplies, is strictly recorded. Consort Yu is the de facto head of the harem. If she used poison, it would definitely be discovered. Besides, the incense pills you made were found in Yuan Chenghai's house back then. With that precedent, it's easy for people to suspect you..."

Seeing Xue Han stammering in fear, Qiu Heng chuckled and said, "I was just kidding."

Xue Han paused for a moment, then said helplessly, "Aheng, don't let your guard down. The palace is completely different from the outside world."

Even the Imperial City Guard couldn't find their way into the palace; they could only secretly watch people leaving the palace from the outside.

"Don't worry about me. If my life is in danger, I can just leave the capital. There's plenty of time and place to survive," Qiu Heng said calmly.

Three of the five traitors have been eliminated. If we are truly forced into a dangerous situation by Consort Yu, then let Xue Quan deal with the tyrannical emperor, and then kill the traitor who let the Qi army into the pass. This will also fulfill the entrustment of the master and the others.

Whether this can save the Great Xia Dynasty is something she has done her best for; the rest is up to fate.

Xue Han's expression faltered slightly: "Leave the capital?"

"This is the worst-case scenario. I won't leave unless absolutely necessary."

Xue Han was silent for a moment, then asked, "What about me?"

He wasn't among Aheng's escape routes.

Qiu Heng replied without any hesitation, "If you're willing, let's go together."

If Xue Hanruo is willing to give up power and wealth, why wouldn't she want it? It would also give her another helper.

Xue Han's heart was still aching, and he never expected Qiu Heng to say that. His expression became extremely complicated.

"What's wrong?"

Xue Han snapped out of his daze and couldn't help but ask, "Aheng, what you just said wasn't a joke?"

Qiu Heng smiled and said, "So, would you prefer me to be joking, or not?"

A hand reached out and grasped Qiuheng's hand.

The boy's hands, calloused from martial arts training, were not as delicate as those of dashing young noblemen, but they brought a sense of peace to the heart.

Qiu Heng let him hold her hand and did not pull away.

The path she was on was destined to be fraught with danger and life-or-death situations, and Xue Han was someone she had recruited from one of the Five Thieves.

Thinking about it that way, I'm actually a little happy.

"Whether it was a joke or not, I took it seriously," Xue Han said earnestly.

Qiu Heng tightened her grip on his hand and said, "Mmm."

"Aheng, wait for me after you leave the palace tomorrow, I have something for you."

"good."

After the two finished discussing business, Xue Han offered to take Qiu Heng home.

"No need, you've been quite busy these days."

Xue Han coughed lightly: "I'm not that busy."

He initially believed that Su Mama was killed by his adoptive father, but Aheng suspected that it was related to Consort Yu, which relieved a lot of the pressure in his heart.

As I left the teahouse, it was already dark. The streets were still bustling with people, and the aromas of wine and food mingled with the lights of countless homes, painting a picture of the capital's prosperity and wealth.

"Xue Han, do you think this peace will last?" Qiu Heng suddenly asked.

Xue Han paused, his gaze fixed on the mansion ahead: "Dynastic changes are inevitable, and every change is bound to be accompanied by war."

"Yes," Qiu Heng echoed softly, her tone calm but inwardly sighing.

Normal dynastic changes are something a nobody like her wouldn't bother with, but foreign invasions are different.

The foreign tribes that occupied the Great Xia did not treat the Xia people as their subjects, but rather as pigs and dogs.

"We've arrived." Qiu Heng said goodbye to Xue Han. "See you tomorrow."

See you tomorrow.

The next morning, Qiuheng entered the palace but did not see the white cat again.

Consort Yu smiled and said, "How could Princess Suiyun go unpunished for almost injuring her? It was just a cat; Princess Suiyun need not take it to heart. As for the art of incense, I have little knowledge of it and wonder where I should begin to learn?"

"Let's start by getting to know the spices."

Consort Yu gestured with her chin toward a eunuch and said, "Go to the Incense Pavilion and fetch all kinds of spices."

The rest of the time was spent fiddling with spices, and Consort Yu was actually learning very seriously. After about an hour, she said, "Let's stop here for today. I'm a little tired."

"Then this humble woman will take her leave."

Consort Yu smiled and said, "Princess Suiyun has had a long journey. Please have lunch before you leave."

"It's still early before lunch, and Your Majesty has many things to attend to, so I won't disturb you any longer."

"It seems that Princess Suiyun feels uncomfortable dining with me. Then you should have lunch at Consort Qiu's place before returning."

Seeing that Qiu Heng was still going to refuse, Consort Yu raised her eyebrows slightly: "Princess Suiyun, please don't refuse me again."

Qiu Heng had no choice but to agree.

Qiu Meiren was only surprised, not pleased, by Qiu Heng's arrival.

It wasn't that she didn't welcome her sister, but rather that she worried Consort Yu harbored ill intentions. She was already mired in this quagmire enough; she didn't want another one to join in.

"There's no use thinking about it. Sister, you should eat more. I think the dishes look good."

Qiu Meiren smiled mockingly: "Indeed, it's quite good."

Everything in the palace follows established rules. Although the number of dishes remained the same today, the quality of the ingredients was significantly improved.

Everyone in the palace knows that the Imperial Concubine has asked Sixth Sister to teach her how to make incense.

After the meal, Qiu Heng didn't linger: "Sister, I'm going back now. It looks like I'll be bothering you again tomorrow."

Qiu Meiren felt uneasy: "Could it be that Consort Yu summons Sixth Sister to the palace every day?"

How is this any different from guarding against thieves for a thousand days?

"It seems possible at the moment. Let's take it one step at a time. Maybe one day she'll get tired of it and stop calling me," Qiu Heng comforted her, knowing that Qiu Mei was a thoughtful woman.

Today, Qiu Heng arrived in the Earl's mansion's carriage. After leaving the palace and getting into the carriage, she said to Uncle Zhang, "Uncle Zhang, let's go to Qinglian Lake first."

Without saying a word, Uncle Zhang headed straight for Qinglian Lake.

"Uncle Zhang, stop here and wait for me. I'll be back in a bit."

Uncle Zhang, who never liked talkative people, hesitated for a moment: "Sixth Miss, I heard that Qinglian Lake is haunted."

The autumn hibiscus plant lingered.

Fearing she wouldn't believe him, Uncle Zhang gestured: "Many people saw it. It's a water ghost with hair dragging on the ground. If you encounter it, you'll be strangled by the female ghost's long hair..."

"Uncle Zhang, don't worry, the female ghost definitely won't come out during the day." Qiu Heng said this through gritted teeth.

At that time, she was being carried under Xue Han's arm as they ran, her hair disheveled and covered in grime. To the curious onlookers, it was just long hair dragging on the ground.

When Qiu Heng saw Xue Han waiting by the lake, her inner grumbling vanished. Looking at the birdcage he was carrying, she asked, "Why did you bring pigeons?"

Xue Han handed over the cage: "Here you go, carrier pigeon. You can use it to deliver messages if something urgent happens."

Qiu Heng took it: "If there's no rush, I'll go find Commander Hu."

Xue Han thought carrier pigeons were much more convenient than Hu Si, but since Aheng said so, he would go along with whatever she wanted.

The boy replied calmly, "Yes, either way is fine."

"Today, Consort Yu showed no unusual behavior and did not make things difficult for me. She still wants me to go to the palace tomorrow..." Qiu Heng recounted her experience at the palace today.

Xue Han also mentioned making arrangements in secret.

"Let's go, Uncle Zhang is still waiting over there."

Qiu Heng carried the pigeon cage back to the carriage, and Uncle Zhang's expression changed as he stared at the white pigeons in the cage.

Where did the pigeons come from?

Hiss—could it be that the Sixth Sister killed the water ghost, and that female ghost transformed into her?

(End of this chapter)