Chapter 243 Different
The scene fell silent instantly, and Qiu Heng could clearly see the embarrassment on the faces of Master Qiu and the others.
Yes, it's understandable that the grandchildren don't mention their grandfather, saying they're too old to talk about him. But it's really unacceptable that the sons and daughters-in-law have completely forgotten their elderly father. If word gets out, they'll be criticized for being unfilial.
The awkward silence wasn't among the sons and daughters-in-law. Seeing the awkwardness after his daughter spoke, he quickly said, "Your grandfather is in Dali Temple prison."
Qiu Heng looked puzzled.
When her father first visited her in Dali Temple prison, she asked about her family. Her father said everything was fine and never mentioned that Yongqingbo was also in prison.
Master Qiu kindly explained to his daughter, "When you were not back, the Emperor was furious that you had killed the Prince and Princess of Xijiang, so he threw your grandfather into prison..."
Qiu Heng's lips twitched slightly.
This is what Father meant when he said everything was good at home...
Now, both she and Xue Han are out, but the Earl of Yongqing is still in prison.
Qiu Heng was unsure whether to say that Yongqing Bo deserved it or that he had suffered too much.
"Ahem." The old lady coughed lightly, her face calm. "It's already a great blessing that Heng'er was able to come out safely. If she were to run around for the sake of the Earl at this time, His Majesty would surely think the Earl's family is greedy, and it might bring further trouble. Let's wait a little longer; perhaps His Majesty will remember and release her..."
Everyone listened and nodded in agreement.
Since the old lady said so, everything is fine. It's not that they are unfilial, but that we need to think things through carefully.
"Then, Third Sister—"
Qiu Ying quickly interrupted Qiu Heng's question: "Ah, Sixth Sister, you should eat more of this mutton soup to nourish your body."
Qiu Heng blinked and smiled, "Okay, thank you, Fifth Sister."
Afterwards, everyone ate in silence, and it was already dark when they finished.
"Go back to your rooms as soon as possible."
As everyone left Qiansong Hall, several voices rang out in unison.
"Heng'er, Father is seeing you off."
"Sixth Sister (Sixth Elder Sister), I'll see you off."
Qiu Fu glanced at Bai Qiusong and said, "Stop making things worse."
As for Qiu Yang and Qiu Feng, who also spoke up, since they weren't blood brothers, a glare was enough.
Qiu Fu smiled slightly at Third Master Qiu: "Third Uncle, Sixth Sister lives next to us, we can go together."
Not wanting to argue with his niece, Master Qiu said reluctantly, "Heng'er, Daddy will buy you roast chicken tomorrow."
As the Qiu family walked ahead, listening to the words behind them, Madam Zhao couldn't help but complain, "I don't know what's gotten into Qiu Fu. She treats Qiu Heng better than her own sister, and even puts Song'er behind her. If Qiu Heng hadn't just come out of prison, I'd be afraid the old lady would be unhappy. I would have taught her a lesson today."
Master Qiu, unwilling to cause trouble, said calmly, "Fu'er has always been the type to not suffer injustice. She and Qiu Heng are close, so don't go looking for trouble."
Zhao raised an eyebrow: "You, as the eldest uncle, are afraid of your niece? After what Qiu Heng went through, she must have incurred the Emperor's displeasure."
Master Qiu shook his head: "You say Fu'er is possessed by an evil spirit, but I think Qiu Heng is strange. Anyone else would have died eight hundred times over after what she went through, but she was perfectly fine in the end. Take her trip to Xijiang, for example. The princess, prince, and king of Xijiang all died, but she came back alive. She was only in prison for a few days before being released because her father, who was imprisoned, was still in jail."
“How could it be as bizarre as you say, sir…” Zhao Shi couldn’t continue.
Well, better to believe it exists than not.
The topic of conversation between the second wife, Madam Lan, and Master Qiu was also Qiu Heng.
"Xuan'er sent a message saying she will come back to see Heng'er first thing tomorrow morning."
Master Qiu said with some concern, "Isn't Xuan'er pregnant? It's so cold, she shouldn't be doing anything strenuous."
“Xuan’er sends someone to ask Heng’er about her every day. It’s good for the sisters to get together so that she won’t have to worry about it all the time.”
"My sister-in-law might not be thinking of sending a message to Yun'er."
Madam Lan smiled and said, "That's a matter for the eldest son's family, and it's not appropriate for us to interfere."
Master Qiu sighed, "I wonder what my elder brother and sister-in-law are thinking."
Inside Lengxiang Residence, Qiuying was answering Qiuheng's question: "At the dinner table, did Sixth Sister want to ask why Third Sister wasn't here?"
Qiu Heng nodded.
Qiu Ying glanced at Qiu Fu.
Qiu Fu sneered: "Why are you looking at me? I can't be bothered to mention her."
Qiu Ying sighed: "Third sister... got married."
Qiu Yun got married?
Seeing Qiu Ying's helplessness and Qiu Fu's disdain, Qiu Heng made a guess: during the time she went to Xi Jiang, Qiu Yun may have followed the original trajectory of fate.
"My third sister married a vice minister of the Ministry of Personnel as her second wife." Qiu Ying still couldn't accept it when she brought it up, biting her lip as she said, "If the other party were of similar age and appearance, it would be fine to be a second wife, but that vice minister is already over forty!"
She's not much younger than my father; just thinking about it makes me feel suffocated.
Just as I expected.
Qiu Heng frowned slightly: "Grandfather's plan is to marry Third Sister to a Vice Minister—"
Qiu Fu couldn't help but speak up: "Sixth Sister, you've misunderstood Grandfather this time. That Vice Minister was a good son-in-law that my father chose for Qiu Yun, so that he could arrange a good job for her."
It turns out it has nothing to do with the Earl of Yongqing?
Qiu Heng looked surprised.
Qiu Fu knew that her sixth sister, though seemingly reckless, was actually a kind-hearted person. She was afraid that Qiu Heng would be upset because of Qiu Yun, and had no intention of covering up for the eldest branch of the family: "You don't need to feel sorry for Qiu Yun. When I found out that my father wanted to marry Qiu Yun off to an old geezer as a second wife, I dragged her to Grandmother, but she shook off my hand and complained that I was ruining her future."
Even now, Qiu Fu grits her teeth in anger when she mentions this incident; the scene from that day is still vivid in her mind.
"Third sister, don't be afraid. Grandmother can't stop Grandfather, but Father can still keep him in check. Grandmother loves us and would never want you to become an old man's second wife."
When she said these words to Qiu Yun, she was thinking of her sixth sister.
When she was in dire straits, it was her sixth sister who grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the mire. Now that her sixth sister is gone, it's her turn to grab her third sister's hand.
Qiu Yun broke free from her hand and took a step back.
"Fourth Sister, we are different."
"What's the difference? Is there a difference between legitimate and illegitimate children? Don't be silly. Look at my eldest sister, second sister, and me. Grandfather only cared about legitimacy when he wanted to use his granddaughters to gain benefits. Third sister, are you just going to accept your fate because you're an illegitimate daughter?"
Mingming Qiuyun faced fewer difficulties than they did. The weight of filial piety held her back, and her grandmother was able to stop her father.
When asked, Qiu Yun stammered and mumbled, "I think it's alright... Although that person is a bit older, once she marries him, she will be a third-rank noblewoman..."
At that moment, Qiu Fu felt as if she had been slapped in the face, and she felt that she was really ridiculous.
She thought Qiu Yun wouldn't dare to resist because of her status as an illegitimate daughter, but it turns out they just had different views on a good marriage.
Pulling herself back to reality, Qiu Fu smiled and said, "Let's not talk about her. Sixth Sister, tell me about your time in Xijiang."
"Ginger? Let's start from when we met King Ginger..."
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