Chapter 60 Doubt
"Xuan'er fell into the river?" Second Madam Lan stood up abruptly and asked anxiously, "How is she? Is she alright?"
The old lady, on the contrary, seemed much calmer and asked in a deep voice, "Are they injured?"
Qiu Fu said, "I'm not injured."
"Were many people able to see it?" the old lady asked again.
Qiu Fu: "..."
What do you think about Qixi Festival?
The old lady had a terrible headache and wanted to slap her thigh.
What will happen to my granddaughters' reputation?!
Qiu Yun, who rarely spoke in front of her elders, hurriedly said, "After we got on, imperial guards quickly escorted us to the carriage."
Imperial City Soldier?
The old lady wanted to slap her thigh even more when she thought of Xue Han.
That brat must have seen it!
If all else fails—if all else fails, just let that kid have it.
Although that kid doesn't have a good reputation or background, he's at least handsome, young, and has real power.
Then, thinking about how Yongqing Earl was forcing his eldest granddaughter to enter the palace to serve the old emperor who was old enough to be her father, how he was happy for his second granddaughter to marry a scoundrel who had gotten his cousin pregnant before marriage, and how he wanted to give his youngest granddaughter to a high-ranking official as a concubine, the old lady suddenly felt that it wasn't a bad thing that the young man had his eye on her.
However, it is the second granddaughter who is a cause for concern.
"Xuan'er is always so steady, how could she have fallen?"
Qiu Yun couldn't help but look at Qiu Fu.
Qiu Fu, without changing her expression, recited the story they had discussed in the carriage: "When we set off the fireworks, everyone got too excited, and the crowd caused the accident... Second Sister and Sixth Sister will come over and tell you later."
The old lady glanced at the moon hanging in the sky, suppressing her annoyance: "Why are you bothering me so late? Come back tomorrow. You can all leave now."
After leaving Qiansong Hall, Second Madam Lan hurriedly went to Qiuxuan's place.
Qiu Xuan was still taking a bath.
Lan waited anxiously, and finally Qiu Xuan came out. She stepped forward, took Qiu Xuan's hand, and looked her over carefully.
"Mother, I'm fine."
Only after confirming that her daughter was truly unharmed did Madam Lan feel relieved: "Xuan'er, did you really fall into the water by accident?"
Qiu Xuan lowered her eyes and nodded: "Yes, thanks to Sixth Sister for saving me."
"Yes, thanks to Sixth Miss." Only then did Madam Lan have time to think about other things. "Tomorrow, I will take you to thank Sixth Miss in person."
In Qiansong Hall, the old lady did not sleep well all night. The next day, she looked at her granddaughters who came to pay their respects and said with a cold face: "The Ghost Festival is coming soon. None of you should go out this month."
She gets into trouble every time she goes out; her old bones can't take it if this continues.
"yes."
No sooner had Qiu Heng returned to Lengxiang Residence than the Second Madam, Madam Lan, arrived with Qiu Xuan.
"Heng'er, thank you for saving your second sister—" Madam Lan knelt down before Qiu Heng.
Qiu Heng quickly stepped aside and pulled Lan Shi back, saying, "Second Aunt, you're making me feel so bad."
"Second Aunt is truly grateful to you." Tears streamed down Lan's face. "If anything had happened to Xuan'er, I would have lost half my life..."
Qiu Heng listened, feeling a pang of sadness in her heart.
She felt a pang of envy; she missed her mother.
After being separated for ten years, he went through countless hardships to return home, only to see his mother one last time.
The only consolation is that what was ten years of separation for her was only ten days for her mother.
She is not afraid of hardship; she just wants the people she loves to suffer less.
Unfortunately, there is no one left in the world whom she deeply loved.
Qiu Heng did not refuse the box of gold and silver jewelry that Lan brought. After the mother and daughter left, she changed her clothes and instructed Fang Zhou: "If anyone else comes, just say I'm tired and resting."
"Don't worry, young lady." Fangzhou was already very skilled at providing cover for others, and she wasn't even nervous anymore.
Qiu Heng, familiar with the route, easily scaled the wall, put on her veiled hat, and walked into the street.
The streets were bustling with activity, full of the lively atmosphere of everyday life.
Qiu Heng blended into the crowd unnoticed. Not long after walking towards the Yuan residence, she saw several imperial guards.
"Excuse me, sir, where can I find Commander Hu?"
The imperial guard who was being questioned was taken aback. He looked the girl up and down, but unfortunately he couldn't see her face.
This young lady is quite bold, daring to directly stop the Imperial City Guard and ask them, could she be Commander Hu's lover?
"What is your relationship with Commander Hu, young lady?"
"If the constable can pass on the message, tell Commander Hu that I brought red bean cakes."
The imperial guard chuckled: "Alright, you wait."
It just so happens that Commander Hu is nearby, and their Lord Xue is also there.
The imperial guard went to a teahouse not far away and waved to Hu Si.
Hu Si walked over and asked, "What is it?"
The imperial guard winked and said, "A young lady is looking for you, and she brought you red bean cakes."
Hu Si immediately turned his head to see Xue Han's reaction.
Don't hurt him! What do you mean, "I brought him red bean cakes"?
The boy said expressionlessly, "Since they're looking for you, you'd better hurry up and go."
Hu Si chuckled dryly, "Then this humble servant will go and take a look."
Hu Si breathed a sigh of relief as his men ran out of the teahouse, but when he saw Qiu Heng wearing a veiled hat, he was unsure of what to do.
Qiu Heng spoke up: "Commander Hu."
Hu Si immediately told his subordinate, "Go ahead and get busy."
The imperial guard left, glancing back several times as he went. Hu Si walked up to Qiu Heng and asked, "Miss Qiu, are you looking for our lord?"
"No, I'm looking for Commander Hu."
Hu Si: !
After a moment of surprise, Hu Si asked, "What does Miss Qiu want with me?"
"Does Commander Hu take on private jobs?"
Qiu Heng knew that when she asked Xue Han to investigate the fourth young master of the Xiping Marquis's mansion, it was Hu Si who was in charge of gathering information. Now that she wanted to investigate the fourth young master Zhao, she decided to ask Hu Si directly.
"What side jobs?" Hu Si blurted out.
"I want to investigate the Xiping Marquis's residence, especially regarding the Fourth Young Master Zhao, and see if there have been any recent developments."
The Qiu sisters were all present at the time, but it was Qiu Xuan who was pushed into the river. After much thought, she couldn't help but feel that the Marquis of Xiping's residence was suspicious.
The Qiu family's second branch has recently offended the Marquis of Xiping's household.
"Investigate the Marquis of Xiping's residence?" Upon hearing that it was something he had done before, Hu Si almost agreed immediately. "Ahem, Miss Qiu, I can't take on private jobs. My master has to give his permission first. Here, my master is nearby. I'll take you there."
He can take on side jobs, but he can't take on side jobs making red bean cakes.
"Is that so...then I'll trouble Commander Hu."
Qiu Heng followed Hu Si to the teahouse and met Xue Han, who was quietly drinking tea.
"Lord Xue."
Xue Han lowered his gaze and saw that the girl was still holding the food box. He smiled slightly and asked, "Is there something you need, Miss Qiu Liu?"
Hu Si tactfully withdrew, closing the door to the private room behind him.
Qiu Heng casually placed the veiled hat on the table, along with the food box containing red bean cakes.
"I was thinking of just troubling Commander Hu, but I didn't expect to have to trouble Lord Xue. I'd like to check if there have been any changes at the Marquis of Xiping's residence recently."
Xue Han pondered for a moment: "Is it for Miss Qiu Er?"
"Yes. My second sister fell into the water last night, and I felt something was amiss, so I wanted to investigate."
“Alright.” Xue Han readily agreed, then paused for a moment before saying, “From now on, Miss Qiu can just come to me directly. Hu Si is just following orders and has no say in anything.”
Hu Si, who was guarding outside the door, suddenly sneezed and rubbed his nose.
What's wrong? Did the adults say bad things about Hongdougao?
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