Chapter 12: No More Pretense
Qiu Feng collapsed to the ground, her face deathly pale, and cried out, "Sixth...Sixth Sister..."
He wanted to say, "How dare you catch a snake with your bare hands? How dare you wrap a snake around your third brother's neck? How dare you offend your third brother like this?"
Overwhelmed by fear, he couldn't get any information out of him and could only hear the sound of his own teeth chattering.
The girl seemed to have completely forgotten the presence of others, and coldly asked Qiu Song, "Tell me, are you ever going to stop?"
That gaze was colder than a snake coiled around his neck. Qiu Song shivered and truly felt fear.
He was scared just now, but also angry, and he was thinking of going back to his elders to complain. But at this moment, even his anger was gone, leaving only a suffocating fear.
He realized that the girl in front of him was different from all his older sisters; she was a crazy girl who dared to do anything!
Sometimes, children are more realistic and less pretentious than adults.
"I...I was wrong..."
Qiu Feng stared at Qiu Song in surprise.
What did my third brother say? Did he mishear me?
"Don't bother me again."
Qiu Song nodded vigorously, his double chin touching the snake's body, and he broke down in tears: "Waaah, I won't do it again, please take the snake away!"
Qiu Heng pulled the long snake down and released it from Qiu Song's restraints.
The chubby boy, now free, was too afraid to leave, staring longingly at the girl carrying the snake.
Qiu Heng shoved the snake back into his hand: "Oh, here you go."
Qiu Song was on the verge of tears, but dared not throw the snake away. He pinched the snake's neck and tentatively asked, "Then... shall I leave?"
Seeing Qiu Heng nod, the chubby boy ran off quickly.
Qiu Heng glanced at Qiu Feng, then turned and left.
Lush green branches and fragrant flowers filled the air. Qiu Feng sat on the ground, looking dazed.
Sixth Sister must think that he conspired with Third Brother to trick her into coming here...
The servant waiting by the rockery saw Qiusong running over and hurriedly went to greet him: "Young master—oh, is the snake still in your hand?"
Was the Sixth Sister not fooled?
"Shut up!" Qiu Song cursed, throwing the snake at the servant.
The servant hurriedly caught the snake, sweating profusely, and asked, "Young master, what should we do with this snake?"
"Throw it outside—" Qiu Song paused, then changed his mind, "Do you know who Sixth Sister hates the most?"
The servant's expression turned subtle upon hearing this question.
The person Sixth Sister dislikes the most... is probably you.
"Except for me!"
The servant pondered for a long time before hesitatingly saying, "Sixth Miss has only been in the manor for a short time, and she spends all her time in Lengxiang Residence, so she hasn't had much interaction with anyone in the manor. However, I heard that Granny Zhu, who was initially assigned by the Old Madam to teach Sixth Miss manners, didn't get along very well with her, but I don't know if it's true or not..."
"Let's go with her."
Granny Zhu was on her way to Qiansong Hall.
She couldn't swallow the bitter pill she had suffered that day. Seeing the old lady's reaction, she decided not to bring up the matter again. So she arranged for a maid to keep an eye on things. This maid discovered the clues that Granny Yu was catching fish at Lengxiang Residence.
She said there was something wrong with how the Sixth Miss and Granny Yu could get along so peacefully.
Even without concrete evidence, it's always useful to whisper in the old lady's ear.
Just as she was thinking this, something flew from the roadside and hit Granny Zhu right in the middle.
Granny Zhu instinctively reached out to grab it, but upon seeing the writhing snake head in her hand, she screamed and fainted.
"Granny Zhu was frightened unconscious by a long snake?" The old lady's expression turned strange upon hearing this.
Granny Zhu has been falling into a coma quite frequently lately; it seems she's been plagued by bad luck.
"Tell the doctor to prescribe a calming medicine for Granny Zhu, and tell her to take good care of herself and not to come to Qiansongtang to serve her for the time being."
After instructing the maids, the old lady summoned the head housekeeper, Madam Zhao, and berated her: "How could there be worms in the perfectly good garden? Didn't you arrange for someone to regularly check and kill them?"
"The daughter-in-law will order someone to clean it up again carefully."
When the news reached Lengxiang Residence, Qiuheng also found it strange.
While others might not know, she was certain that Zhu Mama's fainting from the snake was inextricably linked to Qiu Song.
Frightened by her, he went to cause trouble for Granny Zhu, who harbored resentment towards her.
Qiu Heng couldn't understand Qiu Song's reason for doing this, and could only come to one conclusion: this child is sick.
With Qiu Song and Granny Zhu quieting down, life at Lengxiang Residence became increasingly relaxed and comfortable. One day, the calming incense was finally made, and Qiu Heng stepped out of Lengxiang Residence.
The Earl's residence was quiet in the afternoon, but the Earl of Yongqing was fuming: "Go and get some herbal tea!"
The sound of the teacup shattering on the ground was alarming, and the maid hurriedly tidied up and left.
Uncle Yongqing usually rests in the outer courtyard, and those who serve him closely know that the old man has been tormented by insomnia for a long time.
Qiu Heng was aware of this as well.
She learned it from a book.
The Earl of Yongqing went to great lengths to pass on his title, and suffered from insomnia.
Fangzhou has been diligently gathering information these past few days, including this not-so-secret piece of news.
The maid went in to report: "Master, the Sixth Miss requests an audience."
"Sixth Sister?" Lord Yongqing was already irritable with a headache, and when he heard that Qiuheng had arrived, he was impatient to see her. "Just say I'm asleep."
Afternoon is a time for a short rest.
The maid hesitated for a moment before saying, "Sixth Miss said... she brought what you need."
The Earl of Yongqing's curiosity was piqued: "Then please come in."
Qiu Heng waited outside, and a maidservant hurried out: "Sixth Miss, the old master invites you in."
"Thank you for informing me, sister." Qiu Heng followed the maid inside, and as the curtain was lifted, a fragrant scent wafted towards her.
It smells like calming incense.
The formulas for calming incense on the market vary, and their effects naturally differ as well. The Yongqing Earl's family was not poor, but the Yongqing Earl, who was troubled by a chronic illness, used the finest calming incense.
"I have met my grandfather."
"What brings you here, Heng'er?" In front of his grandchildren, Uncle Yongqing appeared kind and gentle, showing no trace of the rage he had displayed when he smashed the cup earlier.
Qiu Heng glanced at the maid.
There was only one maid in the room, who was obviously someone that the Earl of Yongqing trusted.
Qiu Heng took out a box the size of a palm: "This is a calming incense made by my granddaughter, brought as a token of my respect for my grandfather."
Upon hearing this, Yongqingbo was not pleased at all; instead, his face darkened.
How did Liu Yatou know that he couldn't live without the calming incense?
Many people in the manor knew that he was suffering from insomnia, but how long had Sixth Sister been there? Was she deliberately inquiring about the situation of everyone in the manor?
The granddaughter that Yongqing Bo liked was well-behaved and beautiful, not one who had too much attention on him.
“Your grandfather is used to it, so you can just focus on learning the rules at Lengxiang Residence,” said Yongqingbo calmly.
The Earl of Yongqing usually appears as a kind grandfather because his wife and daughter-in-law are in charge of disciplining his granddaughters, so he doesn't need to be cold-faced. However, this doesn't mean he won't lash out if a little girl displeases him.
Ultimately, she was just a little granddaughter who depended on him for survival, not one of those people outside who needed his respect.
Seeing that Qiu Heng did not move, the Earl of Yongqing's voice became even colder: "Step down, Grandfather is going to rest."
"Granddaughter knows that grandfather is used to using them." The girl, who had long anticipated that things would not go smoothly, looked at Yongqing Bo calmly, "But none of those incenses are as effective as the calming incense that granddaughter makes."
The fates of the Qiu family's daughters taught her that being a well-behaved and sensible granddaughter in front of Uncle Yongqing was a complete waste of time.
Such greedy people are better off being direct.
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