Chapter 115 The Person Who Gave the Wooden Doll
After hearing Qiu Heng's analysis, Lin Chengfeng felt a chill run down his spine and murmured, "So this is the kind of life she's living..."
"Chief Lin."
Lin Chengfeng snapped out of his reverie and looked at the serious-looking girl: "Sixth Miss Qiu, please speak."
"Regardless of what you think, from now on, please be careful with your words and actions, and do not implicate innocent people," Qiu Heng said solemnly.
No matter how regrettable or pitiful the relationship between Qiu Meiren and Lin Chengfeng may be, it is not a reason to implicate innocent people.
Lin Chengfeng's face flushed, and he cupped his hands to Qiu Heng, saying, "I will keep Qiu Liu's words in mind."
"Chief Lin, tell me what the palace maid who delivered the wooden doll looked like, and whether she had anything special about her."
"That palace maid was short, with an oval face..."
Qiu Heng noted it down, put away the wooden doll, and stood up: "Then I'll go back."
"Take care, Miss Qiu Liu."
As soon as Lin Chengfeng returned, he was surrounded by his companions.
"Why doesn't Chief Lin see Miss Qiu off?"
"Chief Lin, you can't do this! Lord Xue and Young Master Cui are still eyeing Miss Qiu covetously!"
"That's right, Old Lin, you can't be careless."
...
As Qiu Heng pondered the matter of the wooden doll, she walked back, only to be gently tugged at by Fang Zhou: "Miss, Lord Xue."
Qiu Heng saw Xue Han standing by the roadside and walked over.
"What a coincidence, Lord Xue." After saying this, Qiu Heng couldn't help but think that Cui Er had said something similar.
"It wasn't a coincidence, I waited for you on purpose."
Qiu Heng pursed her lips and asked, "Is there something you need, Lord Xue?"
"Did Qiu Liu go to see Lin Chengfeng?"
"right."
"To find out more about the wooden doll?"
Qiu Heng paused for a moment, then looked up at the boy who was half a head taller than her: "Yes. We also have to thank Lord Xue for stepping in to help us out yesterday."
These words were tantamount to admitting that Qiu Heng had taken the trouble upon herself for Qiu Meiren's sake.
These were words that should have been kept to oneself, but the trust in them made Xue Han unconsciously raise the corners of his lips: "It's nothing. Is there anything I can help you with regarding that wooden doll?"
Qiu Heng smiled and said in a cryptic tone, "Lord Xue is truly kind-hearted."
Xue Han had a feeling that something was wrong with what he was saying, but he couldn't figure out what the problem was.
"I won't trouble you with the wooden doll matter, Lord Xue. I sensed that Eunuch Xue was not very satisfied with your actions yesterday, and I would feel bad if you were scolded."
Qiu Heng spoke in a gentle tone, but Xue Han sensed a distance between them.
That indescribable yet very real feeling made him feel uneasy.
It was as if the campfire, the meadow, and the fireflies of that night were just a beautiful dream.
"Lord Xue, I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving now." Qiu Heng smiled brightly and waved to Xue Han.
Xue Han watched Qiu Heng walk towards Fangzhou, said something, and Fangzhou glanced back, pursed her lips, and turned away. The two walked further and further away.
Xue Han was certain that his feeling was correct.
Ah Heng has become distant from him, but his trust seems to have increased. Why is there such a contradiction?
With no one to ask, Xue Han could only keep his doubts to himself.
In the palace, Consort Yu asked the eunuch, "Did Qiu Liu go to see Consort Qiu again?"
Upon receiving confirmation from the eunuch, Consort Yu scoffed, "This Qiu Liu really knows how to make a big deal out of nothing."
With just one sentence, she started coming to the palace every day, which actually helped Consort Qiu.
Consort Yu opened her mouth to eat the fruit that the palace maid handed to her, and then stroked her fingernails.
The meticulously maintained nails are coated with a light layer of powder, and if you get close enough to smell them, you'll find a faint, pleasant fragrance.
"Qiu Meiren is truly blessed to have such a younger sister."
The palace maid who was feeding Consort Yu fruit advised, "Your Majesty, don't be unhappy because of Consort Qiu. To His Majesty, Your Majesty is the most precious person in his heart, while Consort Qiu is just a novelty he occasionally indulges in."
Consort Yu glanced at the palace maid: "Do you think I'm afraid of Consort Qiu competing for favor? Ha, she doesn't deserve it."
"Yes..." The palace maid dared not speak carelessly, but she had some doubts in her heart.
If the Imperial Concubine doesn't take Consort Qiu seriously, why would she make a move?
But considering that Consort Yu was known for her unpredictable temper, it didn't seem so strange.
"To be honest, Qiu Liu is the most interesting one. It's a pity that she caused such a scene in front of the Emperor yesterday, so it's impossible for her to stay in the palace to entertain me for a long time." Consort Yu sighed regretfully.
The palace maid couldn't help but advise again: "From what I've observed, Miss Qiu Liu is far more capable than Consort Qiu. It would be better if she didn't enter the palace."
"Isn't it interesting if you have ability? Otherwise, how boring would it be?" Consort Yu stood up and put one hand on the arm of a palace maid. "Serve me in my bath."
The next day, Qiu Heng entered the palace again, subtly observing each palace maid she encountered, but found none who matched Lin Chengfeng's description.
Upon seeing Qiu Meiren, Qiu Heng dismissed the servants and said directly, "I went to see Lin Chengfeng. He said the wooden doll was given to him by a palace maid in her sister's name. The palace maid was short and had an oval face..."
After hearing Qiu Heng's words, Qiu Meiren almost tore the handkerchief in her hand to shreds: "I have two people around me who sound somewhat like them. One is in charge of running errands and is called Biyu, and the other is in charge of trunks and boxes and is called Zhuyan."
After thinking it over carefully, Qiu Meiren said with certainty, "That evening I asked Zhu Yan to open the chest and take something out."
That day, she met Lin Chengfeng without any preparation, and her heart was filled with turmoil, making it difficult for her to calm down. So she asked Zhu Yan to open the chest and take out a gold hairpin that was pressed at the bottom of the chest to relieve her sorrow.
That gold hairpin was designed and crafted by Chengfeng herself; it was what sustained her through countless days and nights when she felt she couldn't go on.
"So, it might be that jade?"
Lin Chengfeng received the wooden doll that evening. Zhu Yan was in the palace at the time, so she was naturally ruled out as a suspect.
"Sister, let me see Biyu."
"good."
Qiu Meiren called Zheng Yu in: "Call Biyu here."
A short while later, a pretty palace maid entered and bowed to Consort Qiu: "Your Highness."
"Go to the garden and pick a green peony for my sixth sister to take away."
This green peony is actually a green chrysanthemum, a rare and precious variety of chrysanthemum, but it is not unusual in the royal palace.
Now everyone knows that Miss Qiu Liu resolved Qiu Meiren's crisis the other day, and after the storm, Qiu Meiren's expression of affection for her younger sister naturally aroused no suspicion.
Biyu, who was used to running errands and doing odd jobs, didn't suspect anything upon hearing this: "Yes."
After Biyu left, Qiuheng immediately said, "I'll go and test her."
Qiu Meiren exclaimed in surprise, "Sixth Sister—"
The palace is not like the outside world, and we have only just met Biyu. It would be too hasty to test her now, leaving her completely unprepared.
"Don't worry, sister, I know what I'm doing."
After Qiu Heng left, Qiu Meiren felt uneasy and couldn't help but ask Zheng Yu, "How do you think Sixth Sister will test Biyu?"
Zheng Yu shook her head blankly: "This servant can't figure it out either. How about this servant goes with you to take a look?"
"No, let's wait for Sixth Sister to come back." Qiu Meiren disagreed with Zheng Yu's suggestion and took a sip of tea.
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