Chapter 156 Threat
Outside Qiu Fu's closed room, a sturdy old woman stood guard.
"Ladies, stop here. The Lord has ordered that no one is allowed to enter."
Qiu Xuan said, "We're just here to bring some food to Fourth Sister."
The old woman said sternly, "The four young ladies don't need to worry about this. There are people specifically assigned to deliver the meals, so the fourth young lady won't go hungry."
"How is Fourth Sister doing?" Qiu Heng asked.
Knowing that the Marquis of Yongqing valued the Sixth Miss the most, the old woman's expression softened: "The Fourth Miss is staying here well, with people always by her side, so the Sixth Miss can rest assured."
"Could you please have the nanny take the snacks in for Fourth Sister?"
The old woman glanced at the food box in Qiu Heng's hand and refused without hesitation: "The Lord repeatedly instructed us to take good care of Fourth Miss. I know that the four young ladies care about their sisters, but if Fourth Miss gets an upset stomach, we servants cannot bear the responsibility. Young ladies, please go back and don't make things difficult for me."
The four looked at each other, and Qiu Ying suddenly shouted, "Fourth Sister, we've come to see you, but we can't get in—"
"Oh dear, Fifth Miss, won't you make Fourth Miss feel even worse if you shout like that?" the old woman hurriedly stopped her.
Unable to contain herself any longer, Qiu Ying retorted, "Is Fourth Sister upset because we came to see her?"
"Alright, Fifth Sister." Qiu Yun pulled Qiu Ying aside, smiled at the old woman, and said, "Then we'll be going now."
After the four separated, Qiu Ying and Qiu Yun went their separate ways.
"Fifth Sister shouldn't have shouted that. If it gets back to Mother, she'll definitely be unhappy."
"So what if she's satisfied? Fourth Sister is still her own daughter, and she ended up like this too." Qiu Ying's anger flared up with a sense of despair. "If Fourth Sister knew we were here, she might feel a little better. Otherwise, wouldn't she feel even more hopeless, knowing that no one cares about her?"
"Fifth Sister, what's wrong with you?" Qiu Yun was startled by Qiu Ying's words.
Qiu Ying turned her face away and tears fell: "I just feel scared, it's meaningless, there's no hope."
"Fourth Sister, this is a special case—"
"What about the eldest sister? Did Grandfather force her to marry another man and send her to the palace? Do you think I was too young to remember? If it weren't for the sixth sister, the second sister would have married that beast Zhao Si. Now it's the fourth sister's turn, who's next?"
Qiu Yun listened to Qiu Ying's words, then hesitated to speak.
"What does Third Sister want to say?"
Qiu Yun's expression was a little strange, and she whispered, "I vaguely heard that the Prime Minister's family originally favored the sixth sister, but somehow it was changed to the fourth sister."
Qiu Ying was taken aback: "Where did you hear that, Third Sister?"
"I heard it... in my mother's courtyard..."
"Does Third Sister mean that Fourth Sister went in place of Sixth Sister?"
“There’s no smoke without fire…” Qiu Yun raised her hand to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, her voice even softer, “Fifth Sister, don’t you think that Sixth Sister isn’t as concerned about Fourth Sister’s matter as she is about Second Sister this time?”
“I don’t think so.” Qiu Ying’s face turned slightly cold. “Sixth Sister isn’t that kind of person. If Fourth Sister were to suffer for her, she wouldn’t act like nothing happened.”
Qiu Yun, feeling awkward, said indifferently, "We grew up together and are in the same situation, that's why I told Fifth Sister these things. If Fifth Sister doesn't believe me, then so be it."
When the two sisters had a disagreement, Qiuheng had already returned to Lengxiang Residence.
"Girl, have some water." Fangzhou brought over a cup of honey water.
Qiu Heng took a sip and her gaze fell on the food box that had been set down: "Back then, when I was locked up in the ancestral hall, it was the Fourth Miss who brought me white sugar cake. The white sugar cake was soft, sweet and fragrant, and it was somewhat like Fangzhou's handiwork."
The white sugar cake made by an ordinary cook could not compare to that made by Fangzhou, but in that cool and desolate ancestral hall, she, who had only been in the Yongqing Marquis's mansion for a short time, ate the pastries given by her cousins who were not particularly close to her, and the ordinary pastries seemed to taste much more delicious.
"Miss, is Fourth Miss really going to become a concubine in the Prime Minister's residence? Why would the Prime Minister's residence suddenly take a liking to Fourth Miss?"
"The Prime Minister's residence is looking for someone to bring good luck through marriage. Perhaps the Fourth Miss's birth chart is a good match, and they are confident that the Earl of Yongqing will not refuse."
"What should we do then?" Fangzhou asked worriedly. "The Fourth Miss is so pitiful."
"Fangzhou, go out and deliver a message for me..." Qiuheng whispered.
It was lunchtime when the maidservant guarding the east room of Qiansong Hall peeked through the crack in the door, her face changed drastically, and she rushed inside.
"Madam, please don't do anything foolish! Someone, someone come quickly!" the maid cried out, clinging to the old lady's leg.
Soon the maids and servants arrived and helped the old lady, who was standing on a stool, back to her bed.
Upon receiving the news, Yongqing Bo rushed over, only to find the old lady with a blank expression.
He waved for the servants to leave, then stepped forward and asked incredulously, "Are you crazy? At your age, you're resorting to crying, making a scene, and threatening suicide!"
The old lady glanced at him but didn't say anything.
"Are you threatening me with suicide?"
“A threat?” The old lady finally spoke, her tone surprisingly calm. “It’s not a threat. If I die, Fu’er won’t be pushed into the fire.”
"You'd rather die than live for your granddaughter?" Uncle Yongqing couldn't understand it at all.
The old lady smiled silently.
Is it all just for a granddaughter?
No.
It's just too pathetic to think about being married to such a person for decades, from a young girl to an old woman with white hair, it's not worth it at all.
She too had been young, and had a sweetheart, dreaming of a harmonious marriage and growing old together. Unfortunately, her parents' wishes left her with no choice.
She's lived long enough, and she can even help her granddaughter out of the way. What's wrong with that? It's better than watching her eldest granddaughter go to the palace and regretting it time and time again.
"Utterly selfish!" The Earl of Yongqing was so angry that the veins on his forehead bulged. "Have you thought about the eldest and second eldest sons? They finally managed to get a position, and while you'll be free after you die, their careers will be ruined because of the mourning period?"
The old lady gave Yongqing Earl a deep look, her tone enigmatic: "I'm just too concerned about my sons."
Otherwise, we could smother the old man to death during the night. He might have some fun while he's alive, since he hasn't had enough of the pastries Fangzhou made.
But once the old man dies, the title of Earl will immediately be lost. What will happen to the whole family?
Thinking of this, the old lady chuckled to herself.
She, too, was no exception to the common practice.
"If you dare to die, I'll deal with whoever you love the most!" After uttering this threat, the Earl of Yongqing summoned the maids and servants, "Take good care of the Old Madam. If anything happens to her, you will all be held responsible!"
After leaving Qiansong Hall, Yongqing Bo became increasingly frightened and sent someone to summon Qiuheng.
"My grandfather is looking for me."
"Heng'er, thankfully you reminded us. There were maids keeping an eye on things at Qiansong Hall, which prevented your grandmother from doing something foolish!"
Qiu Heng's heart sank.
The old lady had actually decided to die.
As things originally unfolded, the old lady was perhaps discovered and rescued by a maid by chance, but there's no way to verify that.
“This is a gift from your grandfather.” Uncle Yongqing handed a small box to Qiuheng.
"Thank you, Grandfather."
On her way back with the reward from the Earl of Yongqing, Qiuheng glanced in the direction where Qiufu had been imprisoned.
I hope it gets dark soon.
(End of this chapter)
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