Chapter 111 Hiding it well
My brother is eating red bean cake.
This was the only sentence that little girl ever said to him, and it became his unresolved issue, his obsession, and his nightmare.
He dreamed of that sweet voice countless times: "Brother, eat red bean cake."
My brother is eating red bean cake...
When he woke up from the nightmare, he was overwhelmed by guilt. The clearest memories he had of her were her appearance, her voice, and the small mole next to the web of her right hand when she handed him the red bean cake.
Later, when he grew up and became capable, he learned the identity of that little girl: Qiu Heng, the sixth daughter of the Yongqing Marquis's Mansion.
After taking control of the Imperial City Guard, he secretly sent people to search for him, but to no avail.
Until early summer of this year, the Yongqing Marquis's Mansion found their sixth daughter, who had been missing for ten years.
He couldn't wait to go to her door to confirm that she was indeed the little girl who had been abducted while trying to deliver red bean cakes to him.
The guilt he had buried deep in his heart for ten years made him want to do everything he could to make amends, to protect her from all worries, and to shield her from the wind and rain.
Unexpectedly, he lost his heart to her.
Xue Han did not regret giving away his heart, but he had to carefully hide his feelings to prevent his adoptive father from hurting Qiu Heng.
The adoptive father, known as the "Hidden Prime Minister," could easily deal with a girl from a fallen noble family. He had caused her to be kidnapped when she was young, and if he were to harm her again now, he would be guilty beyond redemption.
After hearing Xue Han's story, Xue Quan was greatly surprised: "So you and that girl have such a history."
"Yes, I have felt guilty all these years."
"I didn't realize Han'er was such a loyal and affectionate person." Xue Quan smiled meaningfully.
“My childhood was full of hardships and I experienced both joy and sorrow. I will always remember those who have been kind to me.”
Xue Quan smiled with satisfaction: "That's right, I misunderstood you."
"It's good that Father isn't angry anymore." Xue Han breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Qiu Heng followed Ling Yun back in silence. When they arrived at their residence, she tentatively called out, "Brother Ling."
Ling Yun said sternly, "Give me your hand."
Qiu Heng hesitated for a moment, then slowly extended her hand.
The marks left by pinching on the palm were particularly noticeable.
"Bring me the best ointment," Lingyun instructed her maid.
"It's just a minor scratch, no need to worry."
Ling Yun's face grew even colder: "It only hurts a little bit of skin? Ah Heng, you're really ruthless to yourself."
I must have endured it to the point of pinching my palm until it bled.
"Brother Ling, I—"
“I know you have no feelings for Lin Chengfeng.” Ling Yun stopped Qiu Heng from continuing.
He neither wanted to hear Ah Heng lie to him, nor did he want Ah Heng to be forced to tell the truth.
Let him do it.
"I just hope you can take better care of yourself."
Qiu Heng's nose tingled with emotion: "Brother Ling, in that situation, this was the best solution."
"Would Lin Chengfeng really have no complaints about being betrothed to her?"
Qiu Heng and Ling Yun exchanged glances and laughed, "It's better than confirming that Qiu Meiren and Lin Chengfeng have an affair, right, Brother Ling?"
Ling Yun fell silent.
Even with anger and heartache, there was no better choice at that time. Apart from Ah Heng accepting it, no one else could do anything.
"Your Highness, the medicine has arrived."
Lingyun took the ointment, gestured for the maid to leave, and opened the porcelain bottle to personally apply the medicine to Qiuheng.
Qiu Heng watched Ling Yun gently apply the medicine to her, and for a moment she was in a daze: Brother Ling seemed to treat her even better than when they were in the south.
"What about Xue Han?"
When Ling Yun asked this question, his tone was calm and composed, but Qiu Heng's outstretched fingers unconsciously clenched together.
"Don't move." Ling Yun gripped her hand tightly.
"Lord Xue—" Qiu Heng spoke of Xue Han, her heart filled with indescribable emotions, but she showed no sign of it on her face. "He probably guessed the truth just like Brother Ling, and as a friend, he wanted to help me out."
friend?
Ling Yun silently recited these two words in his heart, and put the porcelain bottle containing the ointment away: "Aheng and Lord Xue have become friends?"
"Lord Xue has helped me many times, and I cannot refuse to be grateful."
Ling Yun pondered for a moment, then reminded her, "Big brother doesn't know much about Xue Han, but his adoptive father, Xue Quan, is not someone to be trifled with. We must be careful when Aheng associates with Xue Han."
"Okay, I understand."
"What's going on with Cui Er?" Ling Yun's tone became much more casual when Cui Er was mentioned.
Qiu Heng looked helpless: "I don't know what's wrong with him either. Not long ago, the Cui family came to propose marriage. I thought he wanted to marry me to get revenge on his friend Han Ziheng."
Ling Yun's lips twitched, even more helpless than Qiu Heng: "Aheng, no man would do that."
There was no deep-seated hatred between them, yet they risked their entire lives just to avenge a friend.
Qiu Heng finally realized what was happening: "Cui Er, he—"
Ling Yun replied, "I love you."
Qiu Heng frowned: "We don't have much contact."
Ling Yun smiled and said, "Young masters like Cui Er come and go quickly, so there's no need to worry about it. It's a good thing that he stepped forward today."
When the two were arguing, the current emperor would still seriously consider whether or not to grant the marriage. But now that Cui Er has appeared, the current emperor will only think that a group of young people are making a fuss and will not bother to get involved.
And that is indeed the case.
"But Ah Heng will probably have to face some discussion afterward."
Qiu Heng smiled and said, "These are insignificant."
Thinking back now, Consort Yu's direct trip to Lin Chengfeng clearly indicated that she knew that Lady Qiu still harbored feelings for him.
Given Consort Yu's arrogance, if Lady Qiu is not careful with her words and actions, she may escape this time, but there will be another chance.
The palace is rife with intrigue and danger, and every step is fraught with peril. Those within must exercise extreme caution, for she, an outsider, is powerless to intervene.
"Aheng, in the future, consult with your elder brother more often when you encounter problems, and don't bear them all by yourself." Ling Yun raised his hand and gently stroked Qiuheng's head.
"Understood, brother."
Princess Consort Kang learned of the lively scene in the pavilion from Prince Kang, and her head began to throb.
"I knew this girl was extraordinary, Yun'er—"
“Yun’er is quite like an older brother.” Not wanting his wife to bring up their son, Prince Kang interrupted Princess Kang.
Princess Consort Kang calmed down and nodded: "Indeed, Yun'er did a good job."
I just heard from the prince that Yun'er also stepped forward in the end, and she almost fainted.
Fortunately, Yun'er acted appropriately and did not make the Kang Prince's Mansion a laughing stock in the eyes of other mansions.
Unable to pinpoint her son's faults, Princess Consort Kang turned to her daughter and privately admonished her: "Jiayi, your mother knows you and Aheng get along well, but getting along well is one thing. You are a county princess, of noble birth and precious status. You must not be like Aheng, entangled with several men."
Princess Jiayi frowned upon hearing this: "Mother, your words are biased. I have also heard about what happened today. It was clearly Lord Xue and Young Master Cui who were infatuated with Aheng, not Aheng who was entangled with them."
Princess Consort Kang's face darkened: "If she were so proud, why would everyone admire her?"
Princess Jiayi looked at Princess Kang in surprise: "Aheng is beautiful, has a good personality, can make incense, play Cuju (an ancient Chinese football game), can climb trees, and has the courage to lure away a black bear by herself. It would be strange if no man admired her, right? If my daughter were a boy, she would also like a girl like Aheng."
Princess Consort Kang was so angry she almost fainted: "If you keep talking nonsense—"
"Fangzhou has fried some radish cake for my daughter. I'll be going now, Mother Consort." Princess Jiayi smiled at Princess Consort Kang, lifted her skirt, and ran off.
“Look at her, what kind of image she’s picking up from that girl Qiu Liu. I’m really afraid she’ll be corrupted by bad company—” Princess Consort Kang complained angrily to her trusted confidante, Aunt Mei.
"Princess Consort, please don't be angry. The County Princess is pure of heart and will not pick up bad habits," Aunt Mei advised.
Princess Consort Kang sighed heavily: "Ever since we adopted this goddaughter, life has become more and more lively."
In Qiuheng Courtyard, the aroma of fried radish cake wafted from the small kitchen, attracting the maids and servants to glance in that direction every now and then.
Qiu Heng stayed alone in the inner room, took out the wooden doll, and examined it carefully.
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