Chapter 51 Visiting

Yongqing returned home in shock and ordered his maid to invite Qiuheng.

Before long, Qiu Heng arrived and curtsied, saying, "Grandfather."

Uncle Yongqing took a careful look at his granddaughter.

The girl, with her hair casually tied up, wore a slightly worn shirt; her figure was light and graceful, radiating a fresh and lively energy.

It's so good to be young.

It would be even better if someone was young and ambitious.

"Heng'er, sit down."

Qiu Heng sat down as instructed.

"Are you wearing a scented pendant?"

Qiu Heng shook her head: "I didn't wear it at home."

Smell can reveal a person's true character.

When she went out as Qiu Liu, the style of the sachet and pendant she wore, and the fragrance she chose, were all intentional.

When acting as "Magpie," she would always use a fragrance suitable for men, which was both a subtle way of conveying her masculine identity to others and a clear distinction from Qiu Liu.

At home, she washes away any scents she gets from making incense, and prefers not to leave any fragrance at all.

The Earl of Yongqing was somewhat disappointed when he did not see the incense pendant: "Grandfather only knew that you made good incense balls, but he did not expect that you would also make incense pendants, which are incense ornaments that have never been seen in the capital before."

"Does Grandfather want the incense pendant?" Qiu Heng asked directly.

She actually guessed that Yuan Chenghai should have found Yongqing Bo, otherwise he wouldn't have asked her about Xiangpei earlier or later, and wouldn't have specifically called her here today to ask about it.

Asking so directly was clearly to maintain the impression Yongqing Bo had of him: vain, cunning, and audacious.

This way, the Earl of Yongqing will value her worth and disregard her methods. He will be confident in his ability to control her and thus gain her trust.

"Hehe, you can pick out a suitable one for your grandfather later. But I called you here today because someone asked your grandfather to ask you for a fragrant pendant."

"Who is it?"

“Lord Yuan Chenghai is the one you asked about from your grandfather before. His family likes incense pendants, and when they heard that you did a good job, they came to see your grandfather.”

"Family? Didn't you say before that this Lord Yuan spends most of his time away from the capital, with his parents, wife, and children all in the south—"

The Earl of Yongqing hesitated for a moment before saying, "His concubines live here in the capital."

“A concubine—” Qiu Heng said calmly, “What style, color, fragrance, and effects does she like…”

When Qiu Heng asked a question, Yongqing Bo looked slightly bewildered. After asking a series of questions, she was rewarded with an old man with a blank expression.

"grandfather?"

Yongqingbo suddenly came to his senses: "Oh, the other party didn't say. Let me ask again."

Qiu Heng thought for a moment and suggested, "How about this? If you meet Lord Yuan and he can't explain it clearly either, I can meet with that lady and find out for myself."

“That’s not necessary—” Yongqingbo subconsciously refused.

Qiu Heng smiled and said, "Since we are giving a gift, we should make sure it suits the recipient's taste to show our sincerity. Lord Yuan will appreciate it to some extent, seeing that my grandfather cares about his affairs."

Yongqing Bo nodded.

That's true; it's never a bad thing to be on good terms with Yuan Chenghai.

When Yongqing met Yuan Chenghai again, he repeated Qiu Heng's question. Seeing that Yuan Chenghai looked blank after listening, he finally felt at ease.

"There are so many intricacies to a sachet?" Yuan Chenghai was shocked, and even became curious to meet the little girl who had made the sachet.

"Yes, I'm also completely confused. If Lord Yuan doesn't know, why don't you have them arrange to have tea together and talk to them yourselves?"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Chenghai gave Yongqing Earl a deep look.

Everyone says that this Earl of Yongqing is good at currying favor, and it's true. He can even swallow his pride and let his granddaughter deal with other people's concubines.

Hmm? Could it be that you want him to be your granddaughter's husband?

The old man is really going all out!

Even though Yuan Chenghai was used to being lawless in the southeast, he never dared to imagine that he could take a noblewoman from the Earl's mansion as a concubine in the capital. The Earl of Yongqing's overly enthusiastic attitude undoubtedly made him misunderstand.

This misunderstanding only fueled their curiosity about what Qiu Liu looked like.

"Then let them say it themselves. Your Excellency has gone to great lengths; I, Yuan, would like to offer you a toast."

The next day, Qiu Heng met Hui Niang at a teahouse.

Hui Niang had some doubts in her heart.

Don't be fooled by her seemingly unfazed demeanor when she encounters wealthy ladies and socialites while shopping, even managing to outshine them; she never actually interacts with them.

Oh, it's not uncommon. People who ask their masters for favors will have their wives come over to curry favor, but this is the first time they've dealt with an unmarried noblewoman.

"Is that Miss Qiu Liu?"

Upon seeing Qiu Heng, Hui Niang scrutinized her closely.

The young girl wore a simple white shirt and blue skirt, her hair was styled in two buns, her eyes were clear, and her appearance was refreshing, making it hard for anyone to feel any ill will towards her.

She's still a young girl.

"Yes, that's me. You must be Lady Hui, right? I heard you really like scented pendants, so I brought some with me. Let's see if there's anything you like."

The girl's voice was soft, her demeanor generous, and her tone casual, as if she were chatting with a friend.

Hui Niang paused, a strange emotion welling up in her heart.

Qiu Heng cast a questioning look at her.

Hui Niang snapped out of her daze: "This is too much trouble for Miss Qiu Liu."

"It's no trouble at all. I'm very happy that people like the sachet I made." Qiu Heng said, opening the box she had brought and gesturing for Hui Niang to look around.

Hui Niang's eyes fell into the box and she couldn't look away.

Butterfly-shaped pendants, rose-shaped pendants, lotus-shaped pendants... different shapes paired with different tassels, a dazzling array that is hard to look away from.

Hui Niang picked up this and put down that, wishing she could take them all with her.

After a long while, she finally managed to lift her eyes and look at Qiu Heng.

"It's an eye-opener to see so many exquisite perfume pendants; I don't even know where to begin when choosing one."

Qiu Heng smiled and said, "You flatter me, Madam Hui. It's just a matter of practice. In fact, whether it's a scented pendant or a scented ball, there is no best, only the most suitable."

"suitable?"

"Yes, that's suitable."

The fragrances of the incense sticks in the box mingled, and a faint scent emanated from the girl, making her words inexplicably alluring: "Everyone has a unique scent. Even if the same fragrance is used on different people, it will blend with their own scent to present different fragrances... Therefore, fragrances must be made according to the person, making them unique."

It's one of a kind!

These words struck a chord with Hui Niang.

"Sixth Miss Qiu," Hui Niang said, her eyes sparkling, "could you please concoct a fragrance perfectly suited to me? I'm willing to pay a hefty reward!"

Qiu Heng smiled and said, "You're being too polite by mentioning money, Madam Hui. I make incense as a hobby, not for sale."

Hui Niang quickly replied, "I didn't mean anything by it, I just like it so much..."

“I know.” Qiu Heng paused deliberately. “For me, the greatest reward is that someone genuinely appreciates the incense I make. However—”

Hui Niang was excited when the word "however" made her heart tighten.

“Hui Niangzi wears perfume and her clothes are scented. She must have used perfume when she bathed, which makes it difficult to identify her own scent.”

"Then what should we do?"

Qiu Heng thought for a moment and said, "There's no time like the present. How about this, I'll go to your residence with Lady Hui, and after you've bathed and changed and have a better understanding of the scent, I'll go back and make incense for you."

Hui Niang was overjoyed upon hearing this: "Thank you, Miss Qiu Liu."

Hu Si and a few of his men were strolling around the Yuan residence, making a show of patrolling. When they saw a carriage bearing the insignia of the Yongqing Earl's Mansion enter the Yuan residence, they couldn't help but rub their eyes.

That car was clearly for women, so how did it end up in Yuan Chenghai's house?

Oh no, could it be red bean cake?!

After thinking about this, Hu Si walked over directly.

The gatekeeper of the Yuan residence was quite polite when he saw that they were from the Imperial City Guard: "Does Your Excellency have something to say?"

Hu Si pointed inside the door: "I just saw a carriage go in, it doesn't look like yours."

The servant cursed under his breath at the sharp eyes of the Imperial City Guard, then chuckled and said, "They said it's the sixth young lady from the Yongqing Marquis's mansion, here to mix incense for Lady Hui."

"Oh, that's all right now."

Hu Si turned and left, then turned a corner and ran away.

Go tell the adults!

(End of this chapter)