Chapter 16 Finding Someone
The sound of "Aheng" made Qiuheng momentarily dazed.
Her relationship with Brother Bai went beyond simply knowing each other since childhood.
She, a country girl, could read, thanks to Brother Bai. She also developed a love for reading, and those books were also lent to her by Brother Bai.
From her first encounter in the mountains at the age of eleven to her reunion in the capital, four years may seem short, but it was a crucial period in her life.
This life also includes her rich and arduous ten years of experience in the Great Xia Dynasty that followed.
Brother Bai was one of the most important people to her after she lost her adoptive parents; another important person was Fangzhou.
As for the Qiu family members, whether they treated her well or badly, it didn't leave much of a mark on her mind for the time being.
But now, Brother Bai is no longer the Brother Bai who taught her to read and write at the mountain temple, but Ling Yun, the heir of Prince Kang. And she is neither the carefree country girl Aheng, nor the Sixth Miss Qiu in the eyes of the people in the capital.
She is a knife, an arrow, determined to do everything in her power to rid the Great Xia of the demons that plague it. It is both a duty entrusted to her and a willing act.
She already knew what the outcome would be if she did these things in Daxia at this time. She used to worry that she would implicate her adoptive parents or hurt them, but now those concerns were gone.
“Young Master Ling.” Qiu Heng curtsied.
Ling Yun's eyes darkened: "Aheng, are you upset that I've been hiding my identity all this time?"
"No, as a member of the imperial family, it's only natural for Prince Ling to keep his identity hidden when he's out and about." Qiu Heng still felt close to Ling Yun and directly asked the question that puzzled her, "With such a good family background, why did Prince Ling choose to recuperate in a place so far from the capital?"
Ling Yun gave a helpless smile: "I've never been very healthy since birth. It gradually improved as I grew up, but I developed a headache when I was fifteen. Perhaps it was due to the climate. I thought that staying in the south for a while would relieve my headache, so I finally chose Suiyun County, which I felt comfortable in, to recuperate."
"Has Prince Ling returned to the capital because his headache has subsided?"
"Yes, this headache came on without warning, and it also got better suddenly."
"That's good, congratulations, Prince Ling." Qiu Heng was genuinely happy for Ling Yun.
Ling Yun wanted to say that he was still used to hearing the girl call him "Brother Bai", but he knew that it was not realistic in his current status. He was silent for a moment and then said, "Aheng... has changed a lot."
"When a family suffers a misfortune, people change."
Ling Yun's eyes filled with self-reproach: "I'm sorry, if I had returned to the capital later—"
Qiu Heng shook her head: "Even if Prince Ling were here at the time, things would still have changed. I am very happy to see Prince Ling again, but from now on, please don't call me Aheng, call me Qiu Liu."
Ling Yun remained silent for a longer time before saying, "I will remember when there are outsiders present."
"Then I'll go to the county magistrate's place." Qiu Heng bent her knees and walked forward.
Ling Yun called out to her earnestly, "Aheng, if you ever encounter any difficulties and need help in the future, be sure to tell me."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Heng suddenly thought of someone.
Not long ago, she heard the same words from Xue Han, the imperial envoy.
After a moment's thought, Qiu Heng said, "There is something I would like to ask Young Master Ling for help with."
A smile appeared in Ling Yun's eyes: "Go ahead."
"If it's convenient for you, Young Master Ling, could you please inquire whether there is a Taoist priest in the capital with the Taoist name Changqing?"
When she met the Master, he had already been the Imperial Preceptor for a long time, and by then he should have begun to distinguish himself. As for Prince Ling, he lived in a Taoist temple in Suiyun County and was also a believer in Taoism, so he may have heard of the Master's name.
"I wonder how old this Taoist priest is, and what his physique and appearance are like?"
Qiu Heng thought for a moment, then said uncertainly, "She's probably seventy years old, of medium build, and very thin."
She fell into a deep pool, emerged from the Magpie Lake, and was nearly killed by the imperial guards. It was the gentleman who knew where she came from, and led her to see the king, from which time she lived in the palace.
She asked the man his age, and he said he was a hundred years old, so he should be around seventy now.
This is also why she speculated that her husband would not be unknown at this time. It is said that one should become famous as early as possible, and her husband, who is in his seventies, could not still be unknown.
Actually, it's not too early for a seventy-year-old gentleman to become the national advisor.
"At this age, and knowing his Taoist name, he shouldn't be too difficult to find."
"His Taoist name might be something else."
Having experienced the fall of the city and the southward escape, with most of the country falling to the enemy, it is possible that the gentleman changed his Taoist name.
"That's alright. There aren't many Taoist priests in their seventies anyway. We can inquire about their age first and then confirm it."
"Thank you, Prince Ling."
"When did Ah Heng meet this Taoist priest?" Ling Yun hesitated for a moment before asking this question.
He wasn't a particularly curious person, but he always felt that Ah Heng was becoming distant from him, and he couldn't help but use this question to judge whether his feelings were correct.
Qiu Heng smiled and said, "I knew him before I knew Prince Ling. At that time, the Taoist priest traveled to Suiyun County and taught me how to make incense pendants."
"Is this the butterfly that Aheng wore?" Ling Yun's eyes fell with delight on the ornament hanging from the girl's waist.
This joy stemmed from the realization that Ah Heng was still close to him.
"Yes, this is the incense pendant." Qiu Heng took off the butterfly incense plaque and handed it to Ling Yun to see.
"Great skill appears clumsy, appealing to both the refined and the common; this fragrant pendant will surely become a sensation in the capital soon."
Ah Heng's reputation will also spread.
Ling Yun watched Qiu Heng leave, his feelings becoming complicated.
The maid led Qiu Heng back to the banquet hall, secretly observing the calm-faced girl.
Just now, the young master was talking to Miss Qiu Liu, and she stepped aside, but she clearly heard the young master call out "Aheng" at the beginning.
Unexpectedly, the young master and Miss Qiu were old acquaintances.
Of course, she wouldn't gossip to the princess. Talkative servants might gain some temporary benefits, but they usually don't end up well.
"Sixth Miss Qiu is back."
In the midst of the lively atmosphere, someone shouted something, and Qiu Heng was quickly surrounded.
On the way back after the banquet, seeing Qiu Heng's calm demeanor, Qiu Fu said sourly, "Sixth Sister, you look so radiant today. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were the birthday girl."
Qiu Xuan's lips twitched.
When they weren't at the Prince's Mansion, she would immediately start referring to him as "my sixth sister."
Qiu Heng didn't care about Qiu Fu's sarcastic remarks and took out a piece of red bean cake from her purse to eat.
She barely ate anything at the birthday banquet; she was still hungry.
"Is Sixth Sister eating red bean cake?" Qiu Ying swallowed unconsciously, thinking of the flatbread, and asked knowingly.
Qiu Heng nodded: "Yes, Fang Zhou made it."
"Fangzhou made it... Hehe, it must be delicious..."
Qiu Heng nodded again: "It really is delicious."
I only had two pieces in my purse, not enough to share, so I had to eat them myself.
Qiu Ying didn't receive any polite words from Qiu Heng, and reluctantly looked away.
The sweet aroma of red bean cake wafts straight into people's noses.
Qiu Fu's face darkened slightly: That brat must be getting revenge!
In the following days, invitations poured into the Yongqing Marquis's residence like snowflakes, all inviting Qiuheng to be their guest.
Qiu Heng found one that was different from the others.
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