Chapter 239 Visiting the Prison
After packing his things for his daughter, Master Qiu headed straight for the Dali Temple.
"You want to see Qiu Heng?" Upon hearing Qiu San's request, the prison warden of the Dali Temple glanced at the huge bundle on his back.
Master Qiu hurriedly explained, "It's for my daughter's food and other necessities."
The prison warden grinned: "I thought you'd moved your whole family here. Qiu Heng is a wanted criminal; you can't just see her whenever you want."
"I hope you can do me a favor." Although Master Qiu was not very bright, he knew that in a place like this, you needed money to get through if you wanted to see someone, so he stuffed a silver ingot into the jailer's hand.
The prison warden weighed the silver in his hand, then slid it into his sleeve with satisfaction: "It's only natural that Master Qiu wants to see his daughter. It would be heartless of me to stop him, but you'll have to wait in line."
"queue?"
"Yes, ahead of you in line are the heir of Prince Kang, a maid from Prince Fu's residence, and the steward from Marquis Changchun's residence..."
After hearing the prison warden list a string of words on his fingers, Master Qiu was stunned.
Wow, so many people have come to see Heng'er?
I wish I had spent less time packing.
"Alright, alright, I'll wait in line." Master Qiu suddenly remembered that the Earl of Yongqing was also in prison, so he asked, "Then, if I visit my father first, do I need to wait in line?"
"Emperor Yongqing?"
Master Qiu nodded.
“No need, no one will be watching him. But—” The prison warden twirled his fingers.
Reluctantly, Master Qiu handed over a small piece of silver.
The prison warden's eyes widened in surprise.
Is that all?
After waiting and seeing no sign of Master Qiu increasing the money, and considering that apart from the Qiu family visiting at the beginning of the month, no one had inquired about Yongqing's affairs since then, they had no choice but to make do.
Let's go.
When Yongqingbo saw his third son, he was almost moved to tears: "You came alone? Why did you bring so many things?"
Master Qiu patted the large bundle: "Father asked about this? This is for Heng'er."
The Earl of Yongqing's expression twisted for a moment: "Then what are you doing here?"
Master Qiu honestly replied, "The prison warden said that there is a queue to see Heng'er. Since I'm already waiting anyway, I might as well come and see you."
The Earl of Yongqing was so angry that his mouth twisted into a crook: "Get out of here!"
Qiu Heng heard footsteps and looked up.
"Brother Ling."
Ling Yun thanked the jailer who opened the cell, stepped inside, and gazed at the girl in simple clothes and a hairpin.
This version of Aheng is more like the Aheng she was in Yunfeng Village.
"Why isn't Brother Ling saying anything?" Qiu Heng asked with a smile.
Ling Yun raised his hand and gently rubbed Qiu Heng's hair, his voice choked with emotion as he asked, "Ah Heng, this journey must have been very arduous."
Qiu Heng was stunned.
Brother Ling cried?
"Brother Ling, I'm fine."
These words of comfort only made Ling Yun lose control of her emotions, and tears fell silently.
Qiu Heng knew Ling Yun as always calm and collected, but seeing him like this, she was at a loss for words.
"Brother Ling, I'm really fine. My injuries have all healed."
"I believe you will come back," Ling Yun said, his voice strained.
But I'm still worried.
“Aheng, let me tell you about the situation in the capital.” Ling Yun regained his composure and began with the first urgent report, “…Since receiving the third urgent report, there has been ongoing debate about how to quell the invasion of Xijiang. Some have suggested sending Rong Ning to apologize, but the Emperor is still hesitant. Now that you and Xue Han have returned, I'm afraid the person chosen for apology will have to be changed…”
"Thank you for letting me know, Brother Ling. I understand."
"Aheng, don't worry, I'll take care of this."
Qiu Heng looked surprised: "Brother Ling, how do you plan to resolve this?"
"You'll know when you get back. Don't overthink it now, lest you harm your health."
Qiu Heng shook her head: "Brother Ling, I don't want you to take risks for me."
"It's not just for you." Ling Yun looked tenderly at the much thinner girl. "Aheng did such an admirable thing. How can I feel at ease if I do nothing? I'm also doing it for myself, and for the millions of people of Great Xia to keep their blood hot."
"Then Brother Ling must ensure his own safety."
Don't worry.
Lingyun put away the food and other items he had brought before leaving.
Qiu Heng recognized the second person immediately: "Xiuqiong?"
Xiuqiong knelt down, tears streaming down her face: "Princess, this servant has come to see you on behalf of the Princess."
Qiu Heng helped Xiu Qiong up, her eyes filled with joy: "It's good that you're all back safe and sound. How is His Highness? What about the others?"
Upon hearing this, Xiuqiong's tears flowed even more fiercely: "The princess is unharmed, but the other sisters... are all dead. Only this servant and Xiuzhi accompanied the princess back..."
Suppressed sobs echoed in the dark cell, lingering for a long time.
Qiu Heng felt as if a stone was lodged in her heart, heavy and bitter.
"What about the guards? How is Commander Hu...?"
Upon asking this question, Qiu Heng's heart clenched.
People are ultimately divided into those they are close to and those they are distant from. The concern for Hu Si is naturally different from the concern for those guards whose names and appearances are unknown.
Xiuqiong's eyes were filled with tears, and she choked out, "Commander Hu lost a hand while protecting the princess."
Qiu Heng's expression changed, and she felt a pang of sadness.
In my memory, every time I met Hu Si, I saw a warm and enthusiastic face. He loved to talk and laugh, loved to eat snacks, and was cheerful and confident.
She could hardly imagine what Hu Si would look like with one hand missing.
"Is Commander Hu also imprisoned in this Dali Temple?"
Qiu Heng heard from Ling Yun that almost everyone who escaped with Princess Rong Ning was imprisoned in Dali Temple, and even Xue Quan stayed there for a few days.
"Commander Hu has stayed in the border town to recuperate from his injuries and has not yet returned to Beijing."
Even a broken bone takes a hundred days to heal, let alone a severed hand.
Qiu Heng sighed, "That's fine too."
“Princess, our princess asked me to tell you that no matter how the Emperor deals with you, she will stand with you through thick and thin.”
"Then please tell the princess that things may take a turn for the better, and not to act rashly."
"A turning point?" Xiuqiong's expression changed, and her eyes lit up. "This servant will definitely tell the princess."
Only those who experienced that bloody night knew how reliable Princess Suiyun was. And this became a secret shared by the survivors.
"Go back, don't stay in a place like this for too long."
Just then, the jailer came to urge her to leave. Xiuqiong knelt down and solemnly kowtowed to Qiuheng before leaving.
When Qiu Heng met Master Qiu, it was nearly dusk, and the prison cell was even darker.
Master Qiu threw down his large bundle, grasped Qiu Heng's hand, and wept uncontrollably: "Heng'er, Father was so worried."
"Father, don't cry, your daughter is back."
"Did you get hurt after falling off the cliff? It must hurt a lot."
"I was injured, but I'm fully recovered now. How's everything at home?"
"Everything's fine at home, everything's fine, I'm just missing you." Master Qiu opened the bundle. "This is a mattress, a washbasin... and some pastries made by Fangzhou... Hmm, are the mattresses in the prison cell so new?"
"It was brought by Brother Ling. Father, please take the bedding you brought to Xue Han for me."
"Give it to Xue Han? Hmm, he's been taking care of you these days, you should go see him." Master Qiu nimbly picked up the bedding that Ling Yun had brought. "Heng'er, you use the ones your father brought, I'll take this to him."
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