Chapter 200 Masks
Qiu Heng took the fox mask from Xue Han: "Is this a New Year's gift for me?"
Many people visiting the lantern festival wore masks, and every now and then someone wearing a fox mask would walk by.
"I bought the mask on a whim." Xue Han then handed over another item. "This is a gift."
"What is it?" Qiu Heng opened the cloth bag and looked inside. Inside was a wooden box.
"Agarwood from a foreign land."
“Exotic agarwood.” Qiu Heng understood the value of this gift and expressed her gratitude without hesitation. “Xue Han, thank you for your gift. I like it very much. And I also like this fox mask.”
As she spoke, she took off her mask, revealing a pair of bright eyes.
Xue Han paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "I'm glad you like it."
Qiu Heng smiled and said, "I thought we would meet during the New Year. Luckily, I brought it with me."
She lowered her eyes and took out a magpie-shaped pendant from her purse, missing the fleeting dimming in the boy's eyes when he heard these words.
"Xue Han, may the New Year bring you all your wishes."
Xue Han took the sachet and carefully put it away: "Thank you, I like it very much too."
Did you come here specifically to see me?
It would be absurd to say that such a large crowd during the Lantern Festival was a coincidence.
"Yes. Once the fifteenth is over, the New Year is over."
"Let's go buy some candied hawthorns, and bring them back for the sisters to eat later." Qiu Heng put her mask back on.
Xue Han also put on the tiger mask.
People came and went around them, shoulder to shoulder, and the two naturally stood very close.
"Have you been busy lately?" Qiu Heng asked casually, avoiding passersby.
"It is quite busy. Although all government offices are sealed off during the New Year, there is still a lot of work to be done in offices like the Imperial City Guard."
"No wonder you didn't come looking for me."
Xue Han glanced deeply at the girl beside him, but she was wearing a fox mask, so he couldn't see her expression. Judging from her tone, however, it was still casual and relaxed, without any hint of complaint.
He walked forward, paused for a moment, and said, "I'll be busy afterwards, so we might see each other less often."
Knowing his adoptive father's secret actions, he didn't want to provoke him into doing anything to harm Ah Heng.
Even if he could stop it, how would he cope once his adoptive father and Aheng completely broke off relations?
Although his adoptive father was strict and domineering, his kindness in raising and nurturing him could not be erased. If he chose to join forces with Aheng to fight against her, he currently had neither sufficient leverage nor could he live with his conscience.
As for telling Ah Heng, Xue Han dared not take that risk.
If Aheng dared to kill Han Wu and Yuan Chenghai, she would dare to kill her adoptive father. If he fails, he will protect Aheng, which will inevitably lead to an irreparable conflict with his adoptive father. If he succeeds—
The boy wearing the tiger mask gave a self-deprecating laugh.
If they succeed, what will he and Aheng do?
Maintaining the status quo and waiting for him to gain the power to suppress his adoptive father might solve the problem.
"Xue Han".
"how?"
The fox mask was placed on the girl's face, revealing only a pair of eyes that shone with dazzling light. That light, cunning, and mischievous feeling inexplicably intensified: "You seem to have something on your mind."
Xue Han's heart tightened, feeling embarrassed that his thoughts had been exposed.
Children were chasing and laughing, and the one in front ran straight towards Qiu Heng. Xue Han subconsciously grabbed her hand and pulled her to his side.
Three or five children ran over like the wind, drawing a chorus of curses.
Qiu Heng bumped half of her body into Xue Han, and her mask fell off.
A hand reached out and caught the mask.
Xue Han silently helped Qiu Heng put on the fox mask.
"Xue Han, why did you decide to buy a mask?"
The boy's voice was calm and even: "I see a lot of people wearing them."
Qiu Heng raised her hand and poked the tiger's forehead.
"What's wrong?"
"I just think this tiger head looks so simple and honest. Let's go buy some candied hawthorns."
The stall selling candied hawthorns was not far away. The crowd was dense, and many people were wearing masks. Qiu Heng openly took Xue Han's hand and walked towards the stall.
Xue Han glanced at their clasped hands and couldn't help but smile.
"Twelve strings of sugar candy."
The vendor was shocked: "Young lady, you're buying so much?"
"There are many people."
The vendor glanced behind the two of them instinctively, thinking to himself that this young woman was quite interesting; the two of them were greedy for food and insisted on saying there were too many people.
Of course, making money is something to be happy about. The vendor quickly wrapped up the candy and said, "Here you go."
"Thank you." Qiu Heng handed over the copper coin.
"Take care, sir." The vendor put away his coins and shook his head as he watched the two figures walk away.
Wearing masks, it's impossible to tell if they're married or not. They came together, so how can we expect the young lady to pay?
When the fox-like girl handed two strings of candied hawthorns to the tiger-headed boy, the vendor's eyes widened: that tiger-headed boy must be a poor, greasy-haired, and sweet-talking fellow!
Xue Han was somewhat taken aback when she was given two strings of candied hawthorns: "Weren't these for your sisters?"
“I can treat you to something too. It’s New Year’s, so eating something sweet will put you in a good mood.” Qiu Heng sensed that Xue Han was preoccupied, but seeing that he avoided answering, she didn’t press him further. “I’m going to find them now, so they won’t worry if I take too long.”
"good."
Qiu Heng waved to Xue Han, who was wearing a tiger mask, and walked towards Dengshan with a handful of candied hawthorns in her hand. After walking for a while, she took off the fox mask and stuffed it into the cloth bag she was carrying.
"Sixth Sister is back!" After playing for a while and not seeing Qiu Heng return, Qiu Xuan and the others were getting a little anxious. Qiu Ying spotted Qiu Heng walking this way and waved to her on tiptoe.
Qiu Heng smiled and quickened her pace when she heard cries.
"A kidnapper has taken my daughter! Stop him!"
As luck would have it, a girl carrying a crutch under her arm ran towards Qiuheng.
We mustn't reveal our martial arts skills; we can't let the kidnapper escape.
"Sixth Sister, be careful!"
Amidst the exclamations of Qiu Xuan and the others, Qiu Heng decisively threw the candy pile away.
Ten strings of candy hit the cripple squarely in the face, and he screamed in pain as blood gushed from his nose.
With this intervention, the kidnapper was subdued by a group of kind-hearted people, and the woman who rushed over hugged the terrified little girl and burst into tears.
Qiu Xuan and the others were stunned. They only came to their senses when they heard the woman crying and gathered around Qiu Heng.
"Sixth Sister, what did you use to smash the crutch?" Qiu Ying asked in shock.
"These are candy piles I bought for you."
Qiu Xuan sisters: !
"Thank you, young lady, thank you, young lady..." The woman came over carrying the little girl and knelt down with a thud. "May I ask your name, my benefactor? I will remember it forever and do my best to repay you."
"It was nothing, sister-in-law, don't worry about it."
Qiu Fu spoke up, "My sixth sister is the sixth daughter of the Yongqing Marquis's mansion. She is the most compassionate towards the poor and weak. Sister-in-law, you don't need to take it to heart."
"The sixth young lady of the Yongqing Marquis's mansion?" the woman repeated, then said solemnly, "This humble woman has remembered."
Upon hearing this, the onlookers began to discuss it animatedly.
"The sixth young lady of the Yongqing Marquis's mansion? Ah, is it that sixth young lady Qiu?"
"Which Miss Qiu Liu is it?"
"That's what the storyteller told us, 'The beautiful young lady sneaks into the treacherous prime minister's mansion at night'..."
"I remember now, it's that Miss Qiu Liu! Let me see—"
Qiu Heng quickly led Qiu Xuan and the others back to the carriage parked some distance away.
Qiu Yun didn't understand Qiu Fu's actions and whispered, "There's no need to mention Sixth Sister's identity."
They're all roughnecks; it's awkward to be praised when they gossip about you.
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