Chapter 211 Shut up

Emperor Jingping looked at the composed young woman and asked Consort Yu with a smile, "My dear consort, what do you think is the best reward for Princess Suiyun?"

He has already bestowed titles, gold, silver, and other valuables upon them.

Consort Yu rested her chin on her hand and casually replied, "Then why not reward Princess Suiyun's family?"

She had heard the Emperor mention that Qiu Heng had been granted the title of County Princess. Originally, the title was to be awarded to the Yongqing Earl's Mansion, but Qiu Heng requested that the title be awarded to herself.

It has to be said that she felt a certain admiration for this girl the moment she heard about it.

Unfortunately, their positions were destined to be different, and allowing Qiu Heng to have everything she wanted would only cause trouble for himself.

"Reward your family..." Emperor Jingping pondered for a moment and then smiled, "Princess Suiyun, does your father hold any official position?"

No.

Emperor Jingping twitched the corner of his mouth.

In most noble families, people would find a job or a nominal title for their children and grandchildren. This girl's father is really having a terrible time.

"Then appoint the father of Princess Suiyun as a Zhongsan Dafu, with the salary of a fifth-rank official..."

Qiu Heng bowed down: "Your Majesty, I, Qiu Heng, thank you."

"Then you may leave."

"This humble woman takes her leave."

After Qiu Heng left the hall, Emperor Jingping embraced Consort Yu's soft waist and chuckled, "My dear consort has a discerning eye; she has chosen the most suitable candidate for Rong Ning."

Consort Yu gently nudged Emperor Jingping: "Your Majesty, I've been learning incense making for too long today and I'm a little tired."

"Then my beloved concubine, please rest well."

"Respectfully seeing off Your Majesty," Consort Yu said respectfully, but only gave a perfunctory curtsy.

Emperor Jingping, however, was already used to it and left with his hands behind his back.

Consort Yu withdrew her light, airy gaze, used her long little fingernail to pick out some incense powder from the jar, lowered her head to sniff it gently, and then flicked her fingernail.

The fragrance of plum blossoms filled the room as the powder was dispersed.

On her way to Qiu Meiren's place, Qiu Heng encountered the Fifth Prince, who later became Emperor Longxing.

The palaces were numerous and each had its own function. Although Qiu Heng had been going to the palace almost every day recently, this was the first time she had encountered the Fifth Prince.

"This humble woman greets Your Highness the Fifth Prince."

"Princess Suiyun, there's no need for such formalities." After a year, the Fifth Prince had grown taller, but his eyes still held a curiosity for new things. "Does Princess Suiyun visit Consort Qiu every day?"

Consort Qiu lived in a side hall of Furong Palace, traveling the same route as the Fifth Prince who was going to his mother's place. As they walked, Qiu Heng said, "Whenever I come to the palace, I go there."

“You sisters have such a good relationship.” The Fifth Prince walked briskly. “Princess Suiyun, I’ve been wearing the fat fish-shaped pendant you made earlier.”

Last year, Qiu Heng first met the Fifth Prince at Furong Palace. The Fifth Prince liked the koi-shaped pendant that Qiu Heng wore, so Consort Shu told Qiu Heng about it. Qiu Heng then made another koi-shaped pendant for Qiu Heng, which then ended up in Consort Shu's possession.

The Fifth Prince picked up the sachet hanging by his side and showed it to Qiu Heng: "The fragrance is a bit weak, but I still like it very much."

"I'm glad Your Highness likes it." Qiu Heng's lips twitched slightly. She really wanted to explain that it was a koi fish, but then she thought better of it and decided that a fat fish was fine.

“Princess Suiyun, go to Furong Palace again tomorrow and visit my mother. I have a return gift for you.”

Qiu Heng paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Thank you, Fifth Prince."

Upon entering the Hibiscus Palace, the two parted ways. Qiu Heng met with Qiu Meiren and told her that she would not come again the next day.

"What? His Majesty wants you to escort Princess Rongning to her wedding?" Consort Qiu's expression changed drastically. "It was Consort Yu who suggested it, wasn't it?"

Qiu Heng nodded.

Qiu Meiren clutched the handkerchief tightly in her hand: "I knew all along that Consort Yu had ill intentions in summoning you to the palace, but I didn't expect you to answer here!"

"Sister, don't worry. I'm just seeing you off. I'll be back. It'll just be a bit of a long journey."

“Xijiang is a long way away and a foreign land—” Qiu Meiren understood that it was Daxia that needed Xijiang's help. If Sixth Sister really needed something, would she stand up for a little girl?

Since I can't refuse, I'll just have to be more careful.

Qiu Heng felt relieved about Qiu Meiren.

Since Consort Yu is targeting her, once she leaves, she won't cause trouble for Consort Qiu; she might even protect Consort Qiu. To use one person to control another, you always have to wait until that person is still around.

As Qiu Heng left Furong Palace, she walked out silently, and Zheng Yu, as always, saw her off.

Zheng Yu, who usually talks a lot on the way, remained silent, with only the sound of footsteps audible.

Just as they were about to leave the palace, Qiu Heng smiled and said, "Eunuch Zheng, please wait a moment."

Zheng Yu, who had been keeping her head slightly bowed, raised her eyes and looked at Qiu Heng.

He couldn't understand how the Sixth Sister could remain so calm after such a thing had happened.

"Sixth Miss—" Zheng Yu hesitated, but seeing that the girl in front of him showed no impatience, he finally mustered up the courage to hand her something.

Qiu Heng looked closely and saw that it was a small amulet.

"I asked for it when I left the palace a few years ago, hoping that the Sixth Miss would return soon—" Zheng Yu was afraid that Qiu Heng would dislike her, and she couldn't hide her embarrassment.

A hand reached out, took the amulet, and put it into the pouch.

"Thank you, Eunuch Zheng."

Zheng Yu breathed a sigh of relief, watching the girl wave goodbye, her eyes secretly reddening.

Women in the palace had it tough, and women outside the palace were also not free to choose their own lives. Why was that?

Having entered the palace at a young age, Zheng Yu, who is still very young, cannot understand this.

As Qiu Heng walked through the imperial city, she spotted Xue Han at a glance.

He was walking briskly when, inadvertently, his eyes met Qiu Heng's.

Ah Heng?

Qiu Heng walked over and said, "Xue Han, I have something to tell you."

Seeing Qiu Heng's solemn expression, Xue Han felt inexplicably uneasy and asked in a low voice, "What is it?"

"I met the Emperor at Yu Chen Palace today. At the suggestion of Consort Yu, the Emperor chose me to escort Princess Rong Ning to her wedding."

Xue Han's expression didn't change much, but his body was like a taut bowstring, suppressing his fury.

"I'm leaving now." The imperial city was not a place for long conversations, so Qiu Heng finished speaking concisely and passed by Xue Han.

"Ah Heng, wait for me at the usual place."

Qiu Heng nodded gently.

In May, Qinglian Lake is lush with aquatic plants and lotus leaves, making it a truly enchanting place.

Qiu Heng didn't have to wait long before Xue Han arrived.

"What exactly happened?"

Qiu Heng recounted her prolonged stay at Yu Chen Palace: "It's clear that Consort Yu deliberately kept me here until His Majesty's arrival, in order to facilitate my trip to Xi Jiang. Having been in contact with Consort Yu for so long, there's little chance of confirming that she's a spy and obtaining evidence within the palace. It's still up to your people to keep an eye on the contacts between those in Yu Chen Palace and those outside the palace."

Consort Yu was patient, so they could only be more patient.

"Xue Han, I won't be back for a while, so I'll have to rely on you."

Xue Han lowered his eyes and remained silent.

"What are you thinking about?" Qiu Heng asked, puzzled by Xue Han's reaction, and leaned closer to look at him.

"Aheng, tell me the truth, is this just for Princess Rongning's wedding?"

Qiu Heng blinked.

Did he guess it?

“Yeah, how about I swear?” Qiu Heng joked.

"Fine, swear it. If you harbor any other intentions and don't tell me, may Xue Han be struck by a thousand arrows—"

Qiu Heng raised her hand to cover Xue Han's mouth: "Shut up!"

(End of this chapter)