Chapter 41 Another Thief

The coachman's voice came through the curtain: "Madam, something has suddenly happened up ahead. It seems a villain is attempting an assassination in the street—"

Before the old lady could react, the girl beside her darted to the carriage entrance, lifted the curtain, and looked outside.

A few guards stood in front of a man, who was dressed smartly but looked terrified. He seemed quite frightened.

There seemed to be three or four assailants. They wouldn't have been forced to retreat by a few guards, but after making a commotion, too many officials rushed in from all directions, and if they didn't leave soon, they wouldn't be able to escape.

Qiu Heng heard a loud shout of "Withdraw!" and the villains scattered and fled.

Seeing Qiu Heng watching with great interest, the old lady was furious: "You dare to watch such a spectacle? Sit back down!"

I've never seen anyone with such a wild heart.

Qiu Heng stood motionless at the carriage entrance: "It seems the perpetrators have all escaped. Grandmother, aren't you curious about the killer's identity? And who was the target?"

"Why are you so curious? Quickly lower the curtain and sit back down, lest you get into trouble." The old lady's tone became even sterner.

Who isn't curious? But curiosity can easily lead to trouble.

Qiu Heng sat back down: "Grandmother, I think we should find out what's going on just to avoid getting into trouble."

"Hmm? What kind of twisted logic is this?" The old lady herself didn't realize that her expression had become more serious.

"Think about it, what major event happened not long ago?"

The old lady pondered for a moment, then her expression changed slightly: "Han Wu was assassinated?"

The Han family's property was confiscated, their mansion collapsed, and Han Wu lost all his official titles and honors. He was now seen as a criminal who deceived the monarch and harmed the military and civilians. People would no longer refer to him as Commander Han.

The current commander of the Palace Guard is Zhu Qiang, also known as Commander Zhu.

"Yes. Grandmother, don't you think things have been a bit chaotic in the capital lately? First, Han Wu was assassinated, then a spy tried to kidnap the Prince's heir, and today a villain committed a crime in broad daylight. Are the victims just getting what they deserve, or are some people specifically targeting wealthy families? If it's the former, that's fine, but if it's the latter, then anyone could be a victim, don't you think?"

The old lady frowned as she listened.

Sixth Sister's words do make some sense; we should find out what happened.

There was chaos ahead, and the Yongqing Marquis's carriage was stuck behind and couldn't move for a while, so the old lady instructed the accompanying servants to find out what was going on.

After a while, the servant returned to report.

"That man seems to be an official who has just returned from the south. I heard people call him Lord Yuan."

Lord Yuan?

Qiu Heng's eyes narrowed, and she lifted the car window curtain to peek out.

The area ahead had been evacuated, and the roads were now clear. Neither the perpetrator nor the victim had been seen. Fortunately, she had rushed to the carriage entrance the moment it stopped and still remembered the appearance of the well-dressed man.

The most famous official surnamed Yuan at that time was Yuan Chenghai, one of the Five Traitors.

Emperor Jingping had a fondness for rare flowers and stones. Yuan Chenghai was ordered to travel south to search for them, but he used this as a pretext to amass wealth through extortion and plunder, causing widespread suffering and triggering a civil unrest. This unrest, lasting for over a year, severely damaged the once prosperous southeast and shook the very foundations of the Great Xia Dynasty. The Western Jiang seized the opportunity to profit, while the Northern Qi launched probing attacks, plunging the Great Xia into an abyss.

Could that thin-faced, long-browed man in brocade robes be the favored minister Yuan Chenghai?

"You've already offended someone as soon as you returned to the capital?" The old lady shook her head and urged the coachman to hurry home.

Qiu Heng remained quiet on the way, which made the old lady feel a little uncomfortable. After entering the Earl's mansion, she specifically instructed: "It's so chaotic outside lately, so you should stay at home and avoid going out."

She didn't want to go out with this girl anytime soon, at least not for the time being. They had only gone out together twice: the last time they had to avoid a fast horse that overturned, and the last time they encountered a villain committing a crime in the street and causing a traffic jam.

What kind of nonsense is this?!

"And—" the old lady coughed, trying to remind him in a casual tone, "Remember to show your respect to your grandfather when you make delicious snacks in the future. He loves you so much, so you, as his granddaughter, should also be considerate."

"Granddaughter understands."

Looking at her obedient granddaughter who had agreed, the old lady had some doubts: Did this straightforward girl even understand what she meant?

The Earl of Yongqing returned in the evening, and soon after, his head maid Jiangxiang came to report: "Master, the Sixth Miss has arrived."

The Earl of Yongqing was about to go to the old lady's side when he heard this and sat down again: "Let her in."

Soon Qiuheng came in carrying a food box: "Granddaughter, the people in the yard made some flatbreads, filled with mutton. Please try them while they're hot."

Yongqing Bo loved to eat mutton and flatbread. He was about to ask Qiuheng what she was doing there, but upon hearing this, he opened the food box and ate the flatbread first.

Compared to her skill in making red bean cakes, Fangzhou's mutton-filled flatbread was equally superb; otherwise, the Qiuxuan sisters wouldn't have been so captivated by its aroma that they forgot their inhibitions. Yongqing Bo took a bite of the flatbread, his eyes narrowing, and let out a satisfied sigh.

If it weren't for the troubles of inheriting the title, I wouldn't trade this kind of life for even a god.

"Tell me, what's the matter?" After finishing off several flatbreads, Uncle Yongqing wiped his mouth and picked up his teacup.

Qiu Heng spoke up: "Today I went to the Prince's mansion with my grandmother as a guest, and on the way back we saw someone being attacked."

Yongqing Earl paused for a moment: "What does that have to do with you?"

"My granddaughter is worried."

"Worry?"

"Wasn't Han Ziheng's father, who recently killed my adoptive father, just assassinated? How come another official has been attacked? I'm worried about my grandfather's safety—"

Before Qiuheng could finish speaking, Yongqingbo burst into laughter.

Listen to what this girl, who's so eager to climb the social ladder, has to say—she's actually worried about his safety?

Uncle Yongqing wasn't stupid; he could naturally sense that this little granddaughter didn't show him the same respect that a typical granddaughter would show her grandfather. Just as he wouldn't display the same loving and gentle demeanor he showed his other granddaughters in front of this girl.

People are interconnected—Yongqingbo found this statement particularly insightful.

Amidst the old, grating laughter, the girl slightly widened her eyes: "Grandfather, don't you believe in my feelings? You are the pillar of the Earl's Mansion, the head of the family, and the future of the whole family depends on you. With you here, I am a noble lady of the Earl's Mansion; without you, I am just Miss Qiu Liu. Of course, I am worried about Grandfather's safety."

These words struck a chord with the Earl of Yongqing.

He said that this girl is sensible!

Thinking of his eldest granddaughter, she still harbors resentment towards him; what a fool.

Uncle Yongqing was pleased with the coaxing and generously shared the news he had heard outside with his granddaughter.

"Lord Yuan, who was attacked, has been away from the capital for most of the time, specifically on business in the south today. He had only been back in the capital for a few days when he was attacked. Rumors say he offended someone in the south..."

Qiu Heng listened quietly.

As expected of the favored minister Yuan Chenghai.

"Alright, now that you know, there's no need to overthink it. Go back."

After sending Qiuheng away, Yongqingbo went to Qiansong Hall.

"Lord, sir—" The old lady was about to chat with Lord Yongqing about what happened during the day when she suddenly smelled the aroma of meat.

Although the old lady is quite old, she is still sharp-eared, has good eyesight, and a keen sense of smell.

"Has the lord returned after his meal?"

"No, Sixth Sister brought me some mutton-filled flatbreads, which tasted delicious," Uncle Yongqing said casually.

Old lady: ?

(End of this chapter)