Chapter 255 Analysis

With a sharp crack, everyone in the Earl's mansion was stunned.

Could it be that the old man has gone mad from being tortured in prison? Why did he slap his eldest son as soon as he returned home?

Master Qiu covered one side of his face, asking with the same question, "Father, what's wrong?"

The Earl of Yongqing sneered: "You still have the nerve to ask me what happened? What have you, as the eldest son, done while I've been in prison?"

Master Qiu felt deeply wronged: "My son, second brother, and third brother take turns visiting me every day, but the prison warden only allows one person to visit at a time..."

"A visit is enough? How long has it been since Sixth Girl was released from prison? As the eldest son of the Marquis's family, don't you think about your old father who is still in jail?"

Master Qiu moved his lips.

Is it because he didn't work on getting out of prison?

But he doesn't even have a job right now. The only connection he can get is with the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel because he married his illegitimate daughter to him as a concubine.

The old son-in-law said that once the situation at the Earl's mansion calms down, he will be given a job. If he uses his energy on getting his father released from prison, his own future will be uncertain.

More importantly, Qiu Heng has already been released, and it's only a matter of time before her elderly father, who was implicated by this girl and is now in jail, is released. It's not worth the effort to put in so much trouble for her.

After beating his eldest son, the Earl of Yongqing looked at his second son.

Master Qiu stood there obediently, head bowed, without uttering a sound.

Thinking that his second son had visited him in prison and brought him food, the second son had neither done anything wrong nor done anything wrong. Yongqing snorted coldly and slapped Qiu Sanye.

Master Qiu was prepared, and when he saw the slap coming, he quickly dodged, and the slap that should have landed on his face landed on his shoulder instead.

Master Qiu was secretly pleased.

If I completely avoid it, my father will definitely be angry, but if he hits my face, he will be angry, so this is just right.

Unexpectedly, Uncle Yongqing kicked again, this time in the calf of Master Qiu.

"Why did Father hit me? You didn't even hit my second brother!"

After beating up the eldest brother, shouldn't we proceed according to ranking?

"You still ask me why I hit you?" Uncle Yongqing pointed at Master Qiu, "The day Sixth Girl went to prison, who did you take a quilt to?"

Master Qiu: "Give it to Xue Han."

"Do you know why I hit you?" Yongqingbo asked angrily.

God knows he was somewhat moved when he saw his youngest son return with the bedding, only to watch helplessly as that scoundrel walked right past him.

"But those weren't the bedding my son brought; he was just helping out—"

"Enough!" the old lady finally spoke up, "The return of the Prince should be a joyous occasion, why must we turn the New Year into chaos?"

The Earl of Yongqing looked at the old lady with a displeased expression.

"Did Grandfather come out by imperial decree?"

As soon as Qiu Heng spoke, she immediately drew the attention of the Earl of Yongqing.

Yongqingbo's face darkened: "Sixth girl, it seems you had a good New Year."

"Does Grandfather know why he was released?"

Qiu Heng did not follow Yongqing Bo's words, but Yongqing Bo was led astray: "What else could it be? It is the Emperor's boundless grace and His Majesty's mercy."

Qiu Heng's expression turned serious: "My granddaughter is a little worried."

Yongqing Earl asked instinctively, "What are you worried about?"

"Although His Majesty reduces his involvement in state affairs during the New Year period, he is even busier than usual with various sacrifices and banquets. Why did he suddenly think that Grandfather is still in prison? Could it be related to the recent rumors outside—"

"What rumor?"

Qiu Heng spoke of the rumors surrounding the street attack: "Could it be that His Majesty released my grandfather because he heard these rumors?"

Upon hearing this, the Earl of Yongqing felt as if he had been struck on the head, and his anger turned into fear.

If he was released because of such rumors, how could the Emperor not despise the Yongqing Marquis's Mansion?

A reckoning is likely inevitable after this.

Thinking about it this way, Yongqing Bo completely lost the energy to get angry and went into the house dejectedly.

With a heavy heart, the old lady asked Qiu Heng, "Heng'er, did the Emperor really release your grandfather because of rumors?"

"My granddaughter is just guessing. I'll ask Brother Ling and Xue Han for more information."

When the old lady heard that Qiu Heng was going out, her eyelids twitched. But since it involved the emperor, she couldn't be careless. After a slight hesitation, she said, "Then let's invite them to our house."

Qiu Heng readily agreed: "Okay."

She wrote a letter that very day and sent it to the Prince Kang's residence.

Ling Yun received the letter and discreetly went to Qiu Heng's house to meet her in the flower hall.

After dismissing everyone else, Qiu Heng asked directly, "Brother Ling, have you heard the rumors outside?"

"Is it a rumor that your attack was orchestrated by the Emperor?"

"Um."

"I've heard about it. I was quite surprised to hear such rumors."

Although Ling Yun did not say it explicitly, his meaning was crystal clear: the rumors had nothing to do with him.

Qiu Heng didn't think Ling Yun was responsible, since getting involved in such rumors wouldn't do her any good.

"I wonder who this holy deity is, that they think so highly of me."

“Aheng has the ability to be valued. However, you must be extremely careful when you go out in the future. When we get back, I will pick a skilled guard to be your coachman.”

"No--"

Ling Yun said with a serious expression, "Otherwise, I'll worry."

Seeing his insistence, Qiu Heng had no choice but to agree: "Thank you, Brother Ling."

With the enemy in the dark and us in the light, we'll definitely need a driver who can handle unexpected situations when we travel by carriage in the future. We can't let Uncle Zhang live such a thrilling life at his age just because he's useful.

Ling Yun didn't stay long before leaving the Yongqing Marquis's residence by carriage.

Xue Han walked to the Yongqing Marquis's residence.

Horses cannot be ridden freely on the streets of the capital. Given his stamina, it would be more convenient to walk than to travel a short distance by carriage.

A carriage bearing the insignia of the Prince Kang's Mansion passed by, and Xue Han glanced at it indifferently.

Judging from the direction, someone from the Prince Kang's residence went to the Earl of Yongqing's residence?

Did he receive an invitation from Ah Heng, just like him?

Xue Han carried the gifts and entered through the side gate of the Earl's Mansion, where he met Qiu Heng, who was waiting in the flower hall.

Qiu Heng glanced at the gift.

"It's not appropriate to visit empty-handed during the New Year," Xue Han explained, feeling inexplicably embarrassed.

He hadn't expected to be invited to Aheng's home. Since it was Chinese New Year, he couldn't help but think about his son-in-law bringing New Year's gifts…

A sense of unease was mixed with joy.

"Grandma didn't want me to go out, so she had to ask you to come. My grandfather has been released; have you heard anything about it?"

Xue Han nodded: "I was just about to find an opportunity to tell you. His Majesty was furious when he learned of those rumors, and immediately dismissed Di Sheng from his post and released the Earl of Yongqing."

"My grandfather was indeed released because of the rumors. That Imperial City Guard—"

"The Imperial City Guard has returned to my adoptive father's hands."

"Xue Han, let's analyze this. From the attack on me, the rumors started, to the current beneficiaries and victims."

Qiu Heng picked up a plump chestnut from the food box and placed it in front of her: "That day, if you hadn't intervened when the horse ran away in the street, I would have either exposed my skills or crashed into people, vehicles, walls, or trees, causing injury or death to innocent people, or even myself."

She placed another red date on the table: "Your adoptive father has regained control of the Imperial City Guard."

Xue Han also put down a red date: "Earl Yongqing has been released."

Qiu Heng then placed a chestnut down: "His Majesty is even more dissatisfied with the Yongqing Marquis's Mansion, especially with me."

Xue Han picked up a chestnut, hesitated for a moment, and put it down: "The current emperor has lost the hearts of the people even more."

(End of this chapter)