Chapter 163 Strange Fragrance
Madam Yang remained motionless, like a clay sculpture, her eyes fixed on Qiu Heng.
The girl in front of me was wrapped in a plain white cloak, her jet-black hair was tied into two buns, adorned with only a hairpin and two pearl flowers, and her earlobes were smooth without any earrings. It was an extremely simple outfit.
That face was beautiful, beautiful enough, but there were so many beauties in the capital. With Madam Yang's status and experience, she had seen quite a few. No matter how you looked at it, she was just an ordinary young girl.
But--
Madam Yang opened her mouth, but her throat tightened, and she couldn't make a sound for a moment.
But she asked her if she wanted to see Sanlang!
She really wanted to!
She only had one son, Sanlang. When Sanlang died, he took her soul with him, and she had no hope for the rest of her life.
That was her only son!
Madam Yang finally cried out, "What did you say?"
Compared to Madam Yang's madness, Qiu Heng seemed much calmer, even more composed than when she was alone with Granny Su.
It's harder to deal with a troublesome little devil than to get to know Granny Su through the Prime Minister's servants, and then get to know Madam Yang through Granny Su.
"I said—" Qiu Heng said slowly and deliberately, making sure Madam Yang heard her clearly, "Do you want to see Sanlang?"
Madam Yang covered her mouth with both hands and turned to look at Granny Su.
She wasn't sure if what she heard was true, or even if the girl in front of her was real.
Sanlang is dead. The seven-day mourning period has passed. How could someone run up to her and ask her if she wants to see Sanlang?
Was she driven mad by the grief of losing her son?
Madam Yang, deeply shaken, needed Su Mama's help to confirm things.
Granny Su's shock was no less than Madam Yang's; she stared at Qiu Heng as if she had seen a ghost.
Didn't you say you dreamt that the Third Young Master wanted to eat rice dumplings? Why are you suddenly asking Madam if she wants to see the Third Young Master?
Is this...is this an attempt to send the lady to her death?
Granny Su's expression changed drastically. She stepped in front of Madam Yang, looking at Qiu Heng as if facing a formidable enemy: "What do you mean by that, Miss Qiu?"
Qiu Heng seemed startled by Su Mama's fierceness and looked at Madam Yang with innocent eyes.
Madam Yang pushed Su Mama aside and stepped forward, asking, "How can I see Sanlang?"
Qiu Heng reached out and placed her hand on the box she had brought, glancing at the doorway.
Madam Yang immediately said, "Granny Su, go and guard the door, don't let anyone get close."
Granny Su hesitated for a moment.
"What, my words no longer carry any weight?" Madam Yang asked coldly.
Seeing Madam Yang display her usual imposing manner, Granny Su felt relieved and quickly walked to the door.
"Tell me, how can I see my Sanlang?" Madam Yang asked this question in an unusually calm tone, completely different from before.
But she knew for sure that wasn't the case.
When it comes to her son, she forces herself to stay calm no matter how much pain she's in. But because of her son, she can also go crazy at any moment.
Madam Yang knew that she was not feeling well these days, but she was helpless to treat it. It was too painful for a parent to bury their child.
Qiu Heng opened the box and took out a plate of pastries.
Madam Yang glanced at him, and her cooled emotions surged again: "Can Pinky let me see Sanlang?"
If this girl dares to tease her, she will make her die a more miserable death than that Liu girl!
“I can’t have the pink horn. But your son has appeared in my dreams several times asking for it, so I brought it.” Qiu Heng’s face showed a strange expression, and her voice was slow and soft, forcing Madam Yang to listen carefully. “I thought that having such a dream might be due to some kind of fate, and since I’ve met Madam Yang’s Taoist temple a few times, I also brought something else.”
"What?" Madam Yang's gaze fell on the box, and she blurted out the question.
"A unique fragrance."
"A strange fragrance?" Madam Yang repeated, her gaze returning to Qiu Heng's face.
Qiu Heng raised her lips, her eyes brimming with pride: "Madam Yang, have you heard what I'm best at?"
"You?" Madam Yang stared intently at Qiu Heng, recalling the discussions in the capital about the sixth young lady of the Qiu family. "Incense maker?"
Since arriving in the capital, this Miss Qiu Liu has become a topic of discussion due to various events. Her skill in making incense is widely known, especially her new gadget called "fragrant pendant," which has become a favorite among incense lovers.
“Yes, I am skilled in incense making.” Qiu Heng looked into Madam Yang’s eyes, as if looking into her heart. “Incense has many effects; it can aid sleep, refresh the mind, and cure illnesses… This exotic fragrance I brought—”
She paused, her voice heavy as a hammer blow to Madam Yang's heart, yet strangely ethereal: "It can summon the soul."
It can summon spirits!
Madam Yang felt a buzzing in her head, and a rush of heat shot straight to the top of her head.
With a loud thud, it was because Granny Su was so shocked that she bumped her elbow on the door frame.
Can it summon spirits?
Granny Su stared at Qiu Heng in disbelief, with only one thought in her mind: This girl is actually a charlatan!
How dare she?
Just as I was thinking this, the calm-looking girl glanced over in this direction.
Granny Su shivered suddenly, then hesitated.
She had never seen ghosts or spirits, but she believed in them, only she believed in high-ranking monks and Taoist priests, not a little girl.
But perhaps the reason why Miss Qiu Liu was able to dream of the Third Young Master is because she has a spiritual connection?
Unlike Su Madam, Madam Yang didn't think so much. Her composure vanished, and she glared at Qiu Heng with bloodshot eyes: "You said the incense you brought will allow me to see Sanlang?"
"Yes, if Madam Yang is not afraid and her desire to see your son is very strong, then this exotic fragrance can help your dream come true."
"A dream come true..." Madam Yang murmured, two lines of tears streaming down her face. "I'm not afraid, how could I be afraid? How do I use this incense? If you dare to lie to me—"
She gritted her teeth, tears barely concealing the madness in her eyes: "I'll show you what it means to wish you were dead!"
So what if she's a noblewoman from the Earl's Mansion? To the Prime Minister's Mansion, she's not much different from that Liu woman.
"I need to mix this incense, and I also need to supervise it while it's being burned. Madam Yang should understand that this kind of thing that can summon souls must be handled with utmost care, otherwise it can easily bring trouble."
Madam Yang nodded without hesitation: "Okay, I'll give it a try right away!"
Talking is no substitute for trying it yourself. If she can see her son, it will be heaven's mercy on her, a woman who has lost her son. If she cannot see him—Madam Yang curled her lips.
Then she had a new outlet for her emotions, and it was good for Sanlang to have another beautiful woman by his side.
"Not now."
Madam Yang's face turned cold: "Not again?"
"It is best to choose a special day for the first incense offering, such as the first seven days or the second seven days after the first offering."
“Then tomorrow!” Madam Yang’s eyes were filled with tears, and her voice trembled. “Tomorrow is the 27th day after my son’s death.”
Her husband had been gone for half a month.
Tears welled up in Madam Yang's eyes.
"Okay, I'll come tomorrow."
Madam Yang gave Qiu Heng a deep look: "Sixth Miss Qiu, please stay here. It will save you the trouble of traveling back and forth."
If she sent him back, what if he didn't show up tomorrow under some pretext? That would be troublesome. She didn't want to take any risks involving Sanlang.
"Stay here?" Qiu Heng looked hesitant. "I'm afraid my family will find it too much of a disturbance."
"Miss Qiu, don't worry, I'll have Granny Su go to the Earl's residence to say hello."
"Oh well."
(End of this chapter)
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