Chapter 157 Returning Your White Sugar Cake
Back at Lengxiang Residence, Qiuheng opened the small box given to her by Yongqing Earl. The box was dazzling with pearls.
Qiu Heng picked up a bead, held it up, and looked at it.
Fangzhou couldn't help but sigh, "Since you entered the Yongqing Marquis's mansion, you've certainly accumulated quite a bit of gold and silver jewelry."
"Yes, I feel quite rich." Qiu Heng put the pearl back into the box. "Fangzhou, make some white sugar cakes."
Fangzhou readily agreed and went into the kitchen to make pastries, while Qiuheng organized the incense balls and powders.
It got dark.
Qiu Fu sat against the bed, like a puppet on strings, devoid of any vitality.
"Fourth Miss, have something to eat. You didn't eat lunch." The old woman held up her bowl and gently urged her.
Qiu Fu turned her face away.
"Eat a little bit, there's no need to make things difficult for your body—"
With a loud crash, the porcelain bowl was pushed to the ground by Qiu Fu and shattered into pieces instantly.
One of the two old women kept her eyes fixed on Qiu Fu, while the other quickly cleaned up the broken porcelain shards.
Zhao walked in, glanced at the mess on the ground, and walked around to Qiu Fu.
With her hairpins and other sharp objects removed, Qiu Fu, with her face bare and hair loose, showed no reaction to her mother's arrival.
"Madam." The two old women bowed.
Zhao raised her hand to signal the two to step back, and sat down next to Qiu Fu.
"Fu'er." Her voice was gentle, just like that loving mother who used to comb her daughter's hair many years ago.
Qiu Fu glanced at Zhao Shi, but did not let this misconception give rise to any illusions.
"Fu'er, I know you feel wronged, I know you blame us, but there's nothing I can do. Our eldest son's family is ruled by your father, and the Earl's mansion is ruled by your grandfather. How can women interfere with the decisions of men?"
Qiu Fu remained silent.
"You're so stubborn, you'll only hurt yourself."
Qiu Fu remained silent.
Madam Zhao's eyes darkened: "You've always had a bad temper. If you continue like this after you get to the Prime Minister's residence, who will tolerate you?"
"go out!"
Qiu Fu's icy tone ignited Zhao's anger: "How dare you speak to your mother like that?"
"I told you to get out!" Qiu Fu grabbed a soft pillow and threw it at Zhao Shi, her tone resolute. "I don't have a mother like you!"
Zhao dodged awkwardly and said angrily, "How dare you be so disrespectful to the mother who gave you life and raised you! I'm so unlucky to have given birth to a daughter like you. You'd better watch yourself."
The sound of the door closing followed by Zhao's voice instructing the old woman: "Keep a close eye on Fourth Miss. If anything happens to her, you'd better consider the consequences!"
"Yes." The two old women responded in unison, went into the room and sat down, their eyes fixed on Qiu Fu on the bed.
Everything that needed to be removed from the room had been taken away, and the sharp objects on the Fourth Sister's body had been removed as well. The only danger remained the four walls, and with the two of them guarding them together, nothing could possibly happen.
Qiu Fu knew she couldn't escape, so she sat there numbly.
The night grew deeper.
An old woman yawned.
Another old woman suggested, "Let one of us keep watch for the first half of the night, and the other keep watch for the second half."
"Okay, I'll take a nap first, I can't stay awake any longer."
Soon, the old woman's even breathing could be heard.
Another old woman poured herself a cup of tea to refresh herself and advised Qiu Fu, "Fourth Miss, go to sleep. Staying up like this will only make you suffer."
And her too.
Qiu Fu ignored it, but her eyelids grew heavier and heavier.
A wisp of smoke drifted silently in through the crack in the door.
Qiu Fu leaned against the headboard and closed her eyes.
The old woman who was responsible for keeping watch for the rest of the night breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the fourth young lady had finally fallen asleep and she could finally relax and not have to keep an eye on her all the time.
So sleepy—the old woman unconsciously slumped onto the table.
The door opened slowly, and Qiu Heng walked in, looking around.
Two old women sat on either side of the table, asleep with their heads resting on the surface. Qiu Fu leaned against the bed, her head slightly tilted to one side.
Qiu Heng walked over quietly and put a dumpling into Qiu Fu's mouth.
Not long after, Qiu Fu opened her eyes and her pupils widened in shock when she saw Qiu Heng.
Qiu Heng put her finger to her lips, signaling her to be quiet.
Qiu Fu stared blankly at Qiu Heng with her eyes wide open. After a while, she suddenly remembered something and looked around. She saw the two old women sleeping soundly.
Qiu Heng mouthed, "Come with me."
The shock made Qiu Fu forget to react. She took a step subconsciously, but her legs went weak and she almost fell.
A pair of hands supported her, steady and strong.
Qiu Fu blinked, and only then did it feel real.
"Sixth Sister?" She opened her mouth, confirming silently.
Qiu Heng nodded slightly and took Qiu Fu's hand.
Qiu Fu felt like she was dreaming, her steps unsteady as if she were walking on cotton, until the early winter night wind swept over her face, and she was jolted awake.
"Sixth Sister, where are you taking me?" she asked, her voice trembling as she gripped Qiu Heng's hand tightly.
Just as they passed the artificial hill, Qiuheng pulled her aside and said seriously, "I was just about to ask Fourth Sister whether we should leave the mansion to avoid trouble or follow Grandfather's arrangements?"
Qiu Fu replied without hesitation, "I want to leave the manor!"
"Fourth Sister, think it over. If you leave the manor now to avoid trouble, you might be able to come back in the future, or you might not. If you come back, Grandfather probably won't like you. If you don't come back, life might be even harder."
It's true that the Yongqing Marquis's mansion is a place that devours people without spitting out the bones, and the outside world is not a paradise either.
Make sure everything that needs to be said is clear, and then see how Qiu Fu chooses.
“I’m not even afraid of death, so why would I be afraid of difficulties? For me, no matter how difficult it is, it’s better than being a concubine.”
"Okay, let's go."
Qiu Heng smiled and took Qiu Fu's hand, walking quickly into the night.
Despite having lived there for over a decade, the Yongqing Marquis's residence seemed utterly unfamiliar under the shadow of darkness. The familiar flowers and trees suddenly swayed in the wind, like menacing ghosts, filling Qiu Fu with dread.
As the patrolling guards passed by in the distance, Qiu Fu's palms were sweaty with nervousness, but she found that Qiu Heng always managed to lead her away in time.
The cold wind lifted the hems of the two sisters' skirts, and after walking for an unknown amount of time, they finally stopped.
Qiu Fu looked at the high wall and her face turned pale.
Are we supposed to get out of here?
How do I get out of here?
Is Sixth Sister making fun of her?
"Fourth Sister, close your eyes."
Qiu Heng's voice rang out, sounding ethereal and otherworldly in the clear, star-sparse night, seemingly capable of bewitching people.
Qiu Fu unconsciously closed her eyes, but opened them when she heard Qiu Heng call out "Fourth Sister" again, and then widened her eyes a few times.
The girl on the wall threw down the rope and whispered, "Hold on tight."
Qiu Fu hurriedly grabbed the dangling rope, and felt a force lift her body into the air. Before she could react, Qiu Heng had already carried her from the top of the wall to the other side.
On the other side is the outside of the Earl's Mansion, where a long alley leads directly to the vast world.
Qiu Fu's expression suddenly changed, and she stared at the couple in front of her in horror.
"They are my friends, Third Sister and Second Brother Liu."
Qiu Fu looked at Qiu Heng with a startled expression.
When did Sixth Sister meet her friends?
"Now is not the time to explain. If Fourth Sister believes me, then go with them."
Qiu Fu bit her lip and nodded: "I believe you."
She had no choice but to believe it.
Qiu Heng stuffed a package of oiled paper into Qiu Fu's hand and explained to her with a puzzled look, "White sugar cake."
Qiu Fu's eyes instantly reddened.
(End of this chapter)
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