Chapter 98 Bank Run

Perhaps it was because the boy's voice was too soft and gentle, but these polite words made Qiu Heng's ears burn, as if the murmuring swallows were gently flying across the lake of her heart.

She lowered her eyes slightly, avoiding eye contact: "I have a feeling that my older sister knows Lin Chengfeng, and I want to know if I'm right."

I see.

Xue Han smiled and said, "I'll get back to you after I ask."

"Thank you, Lord Xue."

As they approached the courtyard where Prince Kang would be staying, Qiu Heng stopped and said, "Lord Xue, please wait."

Will we go to Qiu Meiren's place again tomorrow?

Qiu Heng nodded: "Yes, I'm going, but I won't stay long."

Wu Zhaoyi slapped her face so badly that she probably won't be showing her face for a while.

"Then be careful."

"Okay." Qiu Heng waved her hand and said goodbye to Xue Han.

Princess Consort Kang was not in the courtyard; only Princess Jiayi was present.

The county magistrate of Chiayi is sorting the herbs she has picked.

Qiu Heng helped her tidy up while they chatted about fragrance.

Feng Caixing burst in: "Cousin, Aheng, it's a rare treat to come all this way, why are you all holed up in the yard!"

“I did go out,” said the county magistrate of Jiayi, pointing to the neatly arranged herbs. “I picked them myself.”

Qiu Heng smiled and said, "I've been out too, to my eldest sister's place."

“That doesn’t count. Come on, let’s go get some barbecue.” Feng Caixing pulled the two of them up, one on each side.

Princess Jiayi was reluctant to go: "It's almost dark, and we don't necessarily have to have barbecue, do we?"

It would be so much better to chat with Ah Heng about incense and experiment with incense materials. Too many people chattering and making a lot of noise is just a headache.

"Is the focus on food? It's on barbecue, grilling meat by hand."

Princess Jiayi glanced at Feng Caixing: "Then do you know how?"

“Cousin!” Feng Caixing stamped her foot, “I even hunted one of those rabbits.”

Qiu Heng, with great self-awareness, called upon Fang Zhou.

"Sister, my cousin and Aheng are here!" Feng Caixing called out happily as she led Qiuheng and Princess Jiayi to the barbecue area.

Several noble ladies who were with Feng Caiyue greeted the Princess of Jiayi, and then nodded to Qiu Heng with restraint as if to say hello.

Qiu Heng could sense the coldness of these noble ladies, but she didn't mind and sat down next to Fang Zhou.

Fangzhou skillfully flipped the meat, and the rich aroma of meat forcefully wafted into people's noses.

"Why does it smell so good?"

"I don't know..."

The women secretly glanced in the direction from which the aroma was coming, and saw a pretty young girl dressed as a maid holding a handful of meat skewers, each skewer golden brown and sizzling.

Someone swallowed hard.

How can someone cheat when they can only bake it half-cooked?

"Alright, girl."

With Fangzhou's clear shout, the women stared intently at the meat skewers in her hand.

Fangzhou first gave Qiuheng a few skewers, then the three of them, including the Princess of Jiayi. He ate the remaining two skewers in a few bites and nodded in satisfaction: "Fortunately, my skills haven't become rusty."

The women: "..."

Although the noble ladies, led by Fang Rui, were a bit far away, the aroma of the roasted meat traveled even further.

Cheng Susu walked over, crossed her arms, and sneered: "Some people just have no manners. What's the point of having a maid do things in an occasion where you're supposed to do them yourself?"

Around noon, Mother suddenly received a letter from her aunt, delivered from the palace. She had been publicly humiliated by Qiu Liu. How dare a country bumpkin bully her aunt! If she didn't stand up for her aunt, she wouldn't be Cheng Susu!

Qiu Heng ate her meat skewers, ignoring Cheng Susu's provocations.

"Would you like to try some venison, young lady? Venison cooked on a stone slab has a unique flavor."

Qiu Heng nodded quickly: "Okay."

Fangzhou asked the others with a smile, "Would the ladies like to try some? If so, I'll make more."

"want."

As soon as the Princess of Jiayi spoke, the noble ladies who were secretly craving meat skewers quickly chimed in.

Fangzhou quickly got to work, while the noble ladies who had been trying their best to grill the meat waited quietly. Cheng Susu, who was talking to herself, seemed quite ridiculous.

Cheng Susu felt extremely embarrassed and snapped at Fangzhou: "A maidservant keeps saying 'I' all the time, without any manners. Like master, like servant!"

Fangzhou buried himself in cutting meat, ignoring Cheng Susu's words.

Qiu Heng raised her eyelids and asked Cheng Susu, "Miss Cheng, you keep talking about rules and regulations. Do you have such a deep affection for them?"

A series of low chuckles rose and fell as many noble ladies thought to themselves that regardless of Qiu Liu's character, her words were so interesting that it would be nice to have her as a playmate if it weren't for all the controversy.

What a pity.

For Cheng Susu, it wasn't interesting, but rather a provocation.

"That can't compare to Miss Qiu Liu's disregard for rules, as a noble lady dealing with the concubine of a disgraced official."

The atmosphere suddenly became awkward and tense after these words were spoken, and all the women looked at Qiu Heng's reaction.

Princess Jiayi was the first to react: "Miss Cheng, aren't you going too far with your words? Has our Aheng ever offended you?"

To the Princess of Jiayi, Cheng Susu softened her tone: "Your Highness misunderstands. I'm not targeting anyone in particular. I just can't stand people with bad character who still try to squeeze into our circle."

“Whether Ah Heng is of good character or not is not for Miss Cheng to decide.”

"But what Su Su said is also true, isn't it?" Fang Rui approached at some point, no longer showing the same respect to the Princess of Jiayi. "Could it be that Miss Qiu Liu didn't visit the Yuan family, and didn't have any dealings with Yuan Chenghai's concubine?"

Fang Rui spoke up, and Cheng Susu's momentum, which had just weakened, immediately returned: "More than that, for such a grand event as the autumn hunt, only Miss Qiu Liu from the entire Yongqing Marquis's Mansion came. I have to admire Miss Qiu Liu's ability."

Not far away, Princess Rongning stood expressionless, and frowned in disgust upon hearing these words.

“Aheng came because I wanted her to come. She is my mother’s adopted daughter, and can be considered my sister. Where does Miss Cheng’s statement place my Kangjun Prince’s Mansion?”

Cheng Susu sighed: "The county princess is simple and kind, always thinking the best of people. In reality, most people in this world are those who climb the social ladder and are eager to make a living."

So what if she has the protection of the Princess of Jiayi? She's not the Princess Consort of Kang's biological daughter. If her reputation is ruined, even dogs won't bother with her.

"In Miss Cheng's eyes, coming to the autumn hunt is all about being busy and preoccupied? I thought it was about getting out of the confines of home, experiencing new things, and relaxing."

Hearing Qiu Heng's words, Cheng Susu scoffed: "What new things can Sixth Miss Qiu experience by always having a little maidservant grilling meat? If you said it was horseback riding or hunting, I might believe you."

Observing Qiu Heng's reaction, Cheng Susu fiddled with the tassel hanging from her waist: "How about this, let's have a competition, see who can ride back and forth faster. If you win, I'll believe you came to the autumn hunt to experience new things. If you lose—"

"What if you lose?" Qiu Heng asked.

"If you lose—" Cheng Susu's eyes were full of coldness, "then you should slap yourself twice and admit that you have no shame!"

Princess Jiayi's face darkened: "Aheng has only ever ridden a donkey. It's unreasonable for Miss Cheng to ask such a question!"

"You've only ever ridden a donkey?" Cheng Susu laughed. "So, Miss Qiu Liu can't even ride a horse, yet you're here for the autumn hunt?"

Heading back now.