Chapter 17 Why is he like this?
The post only listed the time and place, and the signature wasn't a name, but rather "A Crow".
Qiu Heng learned where the post came from—Lord Xue Han.
With the Earl of Yongqing's permission, Qiuheng only needed to ask for permission to leave the house, but she still chose to climb over the wall.
She resolved her confinement at Lengxiang Residence through the Earl of Yongqing in order to gain access to the homes of officials and prepare for future actions. Going out openly was far too troublesome; she needed maids, servants, and coachmen, making it much easier to climb over the wall.
The two agreed to meet at a teahouse. When Qiu Heng arrived, Xue Han was already waiting there.
He was alone, without any attendants.
"Lord Xue." Qiu Heng removed her veil and greeted him politely.
"Please have a seat, Miss Qiu Liu." In the elegant room filled with the aroma of tea, the young man's voice was clear and bright, showing no trace of the imposing aura of the imperial envoy who made all the officials wary.
Qiu Heng sat down as instructed, her tone tense and expectant: "Lord Xue, is there any news about the murderer?"
Xue Han looked at the anxious girl and after a while spoke: "We have found out that person's identity."
"who is he?"
"That man comes from a distinguished family. Miss Qiu, please consider this carefully. Do you really want to know?"
Qiu Heng fell silent after hearing this.
To outsiders, her silence seemed like a sign of inner turmoil, but in reality, it was a sign of surprise.
In her calculations, no matter how Xue Quan used Han Wu's weakness, she would eventually discover the true culprit's identity. After all, she was the victim, the tool used in this "borrowed knife to kill."
But Xue Han actually gave her a choice.
Could it be that the infamous Imperial Envoy Xue is actually a kind-hearted gentleman who pities the poor and weak?
"I would like to know, please tell me, Lord Xue."
"Han Ziheng is the son of Han Wu, the Commander-in-Chief of the Palace Guard."
The girl's eyelashes trembled upon hearing this, and her eyes revealed a mixture of realization and anger: "I've seen this person before. I was out with my grandmother that day..."
"What are your plans, Miss Qiu Liu?"
"I want to report this to the authorities," the girl said, enunciating each word clearly.
A genuine look of surprise appeared on the usually aloof young man's face, adding a touch of liveliness to his indifferent features: "Report to the authorities? Miss Qiu, you are now a noble lady of the Earl's Mansion. If you were to report to the authorities, it would likely attract a lot of criticism."
"I don't care about those things. I just want justice for my adoptive father." Qiu Heng stood up and bowed deeply to Xue Han. "Thank you, Lord Xue, for finding out the real culprit for me. If I have the opportunity in the future, I will repay your great kindness."
She turned around, one step, two steps—
A voice came from behind: "Sixth Miss Qiu, please wait."
Qiu Heng turned around and quietly looked at the boy who had called out to her.
This Lord Xue is so young, so young that it makes her judgment lack confidence.
But soon, Qiu Heng realized that she had been wrong again.
“If Miss Qiu insists on reporting this to the authorities, I will speak to your grandfather.”
Qiu Heng looked surprised: "Grandfather won't agree."
"He will agree, Miss Qiu, please wait a little longer."
Soon, the Earl of Yongqing met Xue Han.
"Sixth Sister's adoptive father was killed by the son of the Commander of Handu?" After hearing Xue Han's words, Yongqing Bo's mind went blank, as if he had been hit by a giant elephant.
Suppressing his headache, he took a deep breath: "How could Lord Xue—"
Xue Han smiled: "I had the audacity to visit your esteemed residence earlier, and I found your granddaughter to be quiet and composed, with delicate hands, unlike a typical peasant girl. Still feeling uneasy, I sent someone to the south to investigate, and the investigation yielded unexpected results."
Yongqingbo felt a chill run down his spine.
The Imperial City Guard—no, Xue Han's adoptive father, Eunuch Xue Quan—is going to make a fuss about this?
"Now that you know, Your Excellency, will you stand up for your granddaughter?"
“For example—” Yongqingbo asked tentatively.
"For example, reporting it to the authorities so that the perpetrators can be punished by law."
The Earl of Yongqing's expression changed drastically: "Absolutely not! How can a young woman like her get involved in a lawsuit?"
“My father believed that the reputation of loyalty and filial piety far outweighed anything else.”
As expected, Eunuch Xue was just using this as an excuse to make a fuss!
The Earl of Yongqing broke out in a cold sweat: "Lord Xue, Commander Han is really not someone the Earl of Yongqing's mansion can afford to offend."
Xue Han sneered: "Lord, you are afraid of offending the Han family, who harmed your granddaughter's adoptive father, but are you not afraid of offending the Imperial City Guard, who are willing to stand up for your granddaughter?"
The Earl of Yongqing was about to cry.
He dared not offend any of them; when gods fight, mortals suffer!
Xue Han changed his tone: "Perhaps Lord Bo is unaware, but Miss Qiu is acting out of filial piety to seek justice for her adoptive father."
The Earl of Yongqing was stunned.
This means letting Sixth Sister handle things herself, so that she can say that the girl who grew up in the countryside is ignorant and acted on her own... Although this would also greatly offend the Han family, it would be better than him personally intervening.
But he's only slightly stronger; offending Han Wu will make things difficult for him in the future.
"What does the Earl think?"
The young man who asked the question remained calm, but Yongqingbo couldn't help but shudder.
The most dangerous are young people who, before reaching adulthood, wield power; they often think little, do much, and dare to do anything.
Xue Han knew that it was about time, and casually threw out the bait: "My father is also very concerned about what the Lord is thinking about."
Yongqingbo's eyes suddenly lit up.
His only wish was to pass on the title!
He had been currying favor with Fang Xiang for a long time, and if he could use this incident to establish a relationship with Xue Quan, the chief eunuch by the emperor's side, his chances would be much greater.
Furthermore, Fang Xiang and Eunuch Xue had a decent relationship, so trying to please both sides wouldn't be a conflict.
Having been persuaded by Xue Han, the Earl of Yongqing immediately summoned Qiu Heng.
"You mean, I should report this to the authorities myself?"
“Heng’er, without you, your adoptive parents wouldn’t have you. We can’t let people say you’re heartless. The other party is of noble status, and your grandfather, for the sake of the entire Earl’s mansion, cannot intervene. If you’re afraid—”
Qiu Heng's eyes reddened: "Granddaughter, don't be afraid!"
Instead of reporting to the authorities first, she was persuaded by the Earl of Yongqing to do so, thus avoiding the wrath of her elders.
In Xue Han's eyes, she was like countless unmarried girls, and her grandfather had absolute authority, so his actions were very considerate of her.
Xue Han...why is this happening?
"Go ahead." Uncle Yongqing waved his hand, wanting to cry along with him.
He was terrified; he was going to be driven to his death by that brat Xue Han!
Soon, something astonishing happened in the capital: a little girl actually sued Han Ziheng, the son of Commander Han Du, and this little girl turned out to be the granddaughter that the Earl of Yongqing had just found.
The Earl of Yongqing rushed to the yamen to take his granddaughter back, but the Imperial City Guard stepped forward and provided information from an investigation in the south.
Tsk, the Imperial City Guard really will stop at nothing to get things done, tricking a young girl into reporting the son of a high-ranking official who wields real power without her family's knowledge.
Looking down at the girl with swollen eyes from crying and the纨绔 (a spoiled, dissolute young man) who vehemently denied everything, the Prefect of Jingtian sighed heavily in his heart.
This is troublesome.
"We cannot draw conclusions based on the testimonies of just a few individuals; further investigation is needed..."
Qiu Heng raised her hand to wipe away her tears and said loudly, "My daughter still has physical evidence."
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