Chapter 166 Visiting the Prime Minister's Residence
"girl."
"girl."
Fang Rui walked inside, and the maids and servants greeted her one after another.
"How is your mother?" Fang Rui asked casually.
Since her brother's death, Fang Rui was worried that Madam Yang might be suicidal, so she would come to visit several times a day, and Madam Yang's condition made her very anxious.
"Madam is alright; she ate some lunch."
"Is that so?" Fang Rui was delighted to hear this. As soon as she entered the room, she saw Qiu Heng accompanying Madam Yang.
Fang Rui swallowed the word "mother" that was on the tip of her tongue, and her eyes widened slightly: "Qiu Liu?"
Is she seeing things?
Qiu Heng nodded in response: "Miss Fang."
How did you get here?
Madam Yang looked over: "Rui'er is here."
Fang Rui stared blankly at Madam Yang.
These days, every time I come over, my mother is either weeping or lost in thought, and she hardly responds to anything I say.
I haven't heard my mother speak like this in a long time, just like when my brother was still alive.
"Mother, are you feeling better?" Fang Rui walked over and nestled beside Madam Yang.
"My mother is doing well."
Fang Rui's eyes welled up with tears.
Mother has finally recovered from the grief of losing her brother, that's wonderful!
Thinking that Madam Yang had returned to normal, Fang Rui turned her attention back to Qiu Heng: "Why is Miss Qiu Liu here with my mother?"
Qiu Heng seemed oblivious to the other party's subtle hostility and said calmly, "I've come to pay my respects to your brother and to see Madam Yang."
Fang Rui's face immediately darkened: "Sixth Miss Qiu, you must be joking. Our two families are not related. It is the elders' business to come and offer condolences. There is no need for an unmarried woman like you to come."
"Is there any law or regulation on this?" Qiu Heng asked.
"What?"
"It means that unmarried women cannot attend the funeral, or they cannot do this or that."
Fang Rui paused for a moment, then became annoyed: "You're just arguing for the sake of arguing."
Qiu Heng stopped talking to Fang Rui and smiled at Madam Yang: "To be honest, Grandmother does think it's inappropriate for an unmarried woman like me to stay overnight at your residence—"
Madam Yang immediately said to her daughter, "I asked Miss Qiu to stay and keep me company, Rui'er, don't neglect your guest."
"Mother?" Fang Rui's eyes were filled with disbelief.
The old nanny Su whispered a reminder: "Miss, the lady has only just regained some energy."
Fang Rui had no choice but to suppress her surprise and dissatisfaction: "My daughter knows."
"Madam Yang, I'll go back to my room to prepare."
Madam Yang nodded slightly: "If you need anything, just tell Granny Su."
The two were referring to the matter of summoning the soul. Fang Rui was furious when she heard this. After leaving Madam Yang's room, she stopped Qiu Heng.
"Qiu Liu, what kind of bewitching potion did you give my mother?"
She couldn't even make her mother feel better, but Qiu Liu did. There's definitely something wrong with that.
Why doesn't Miss Fang ask your mother?
"You think I won't bother Mother, that's why you're so brazen?"
Qiu Heng tilted her head slightly, her face full of confusion: "Why is Miss Fang so angry? I heard from Granny Su that your mother has been heartbroken and has lost her appetite lately. She only started to feel better after I came. Shouldn't you be happy?"
"My happiness for my mother is a separate matter from asking you. I don't believe you're just being kind. Qiu Liu, I'll be watching you closely. Don't even think about causing trouble in the Prime Minister's residence!"
"Please make yourself at home, Miss Fang." Qiu Heng went into the room and closed the door.
Fang Rui, who was locked out, was furious and went to find Granny Su.
"Granny Su, what exactly happened to Qiu Liu?"
Of course, Granny Su couldn't tell Fang Rui the truth: "Sixth Miss Qiu brought Madam's favorite rice dumpling, perhaps it touched Madam's heart..."
Fang Rui gritted her teeth: "They really will stop at nothing."
"Oh, young lady, don't worry about what Miss Qiu Liu thinks. As long as she makes Madam happy, that's all that matters. Just treat her as a way to amuse Madam."
"She doesn't even deserve to entertain my mother." Fang Rui walked away with a cold face.
Nothing happened that night, and the next morning, Granny Su came over.
"Madam is waiting for Miss Qiu to have breakfast together."
"Madam Yang is too kind."
Granny Su gave Qiu Heng a meaningful look, thinking to herself that the madam was not being polite at all, but was just anxious because she hadn't seen the girl for a whole night.
Once today is over, it will be clear whether this girl is a guest of honor of the madam or a prisoner.
Fang Rui came over while Qiu Heng was having breakfast with Madam Yang.
"My daughter hasn't eaten either."
Madam Yang looked tired: "Rui'er, go back after you've paid your respects. Your mother is afraid of noise right now."
Fang Rui bit her lip and lowered her eyes: "Okay."
"Mrs. Yang, I'd like to wander around a bit."
Why is that?
Qiu Heng replied matter-of-factly, "Yes, it is necessary."
"Granny Su, accompany Miss Qiu for a walk."
Fang Rui stared at Madam Yang in astonishment, a thought forming in her mind: Her mother had been bewitched by Qiu Liu!
Once outside, Fang Rui said, "Granny Su, let me accompany Miss Qiu for a walk."
"No, I'd like to have Granny Su accompany me."
Fang Rui's face darkened: "Isn't it a bit too casual for Miss Qiu to be a guest in someone else's home?"
Fearing that Fang Rui would cause a scene, Granny Su quickly said, "I'll stay with her; Madam specifically instructed me to."
"Okay, go ahead and browse."
Fang Rui stopped arguing and walked beside the two of them.
Qiu Heng remained outwardly calm, but inwardly sighed: Her mother was easily fooled, and her daughter, because she disliked her, inadvertently became an obstacle.
"Sixth Miss Qiu, the place where my brother's body lies in state is just ahead. There are many people coming and going there, all of them men."
Qiu Heng didn't reply, but looked at Granny Su.
If it were anywhere else, Granny Su would have overthought it, but going to the place where Young Master Fang's body was laid to rest seemed perfectly normal.
"As long as Miss Qiu is not afraid of crowds and chaos, that's fine."
"Granny Su—"
Granny Su shook her head slightly at Fang Rui.
Fang Rui felt a chill in her heart: not only her mother, but also Granny Su had fallen under Qiu Liu's spell.
After taking a walk around the courtyard where Young Master Fang's body was laid to rest, Qiu Heng passed through the moon gate and headed in one direction.
Granny Su, who had been silently accompanying her, hurriedly said, "Sixth Miss Qiu, you can't go there!"
Qiu Heng showed just the right amount of curiosity: "Why?"
“Our Prime Minister’s study is over there. No one is allowed to enter without his permission.”
"Hasn't Young Master Fang gone there either?" Qiu Heng asked to avoid arousing Su Mama's suspicion.
"Of course not. Our Prime Minister deals with matters of state; how could we possibly disturb him?"
"Oh, I see. Then we really don't need to go. Let's go take a look over there." Qiu Heng changed direction.
Fang Rui sensed something was wrong: "Why are you so interested in my brother?"
It's strange that Su Mama wasn't angry when her brother, who died young and hadn't even been buried yet, was mentioned in front of the family.
"Does Miss Fang really want to know?" Qiu Heng asked with a smile.
"right."
She wanted to know what Qiu Liu was up to.
"Sixth Miss Qiu—" Worried that Qiu Heng, young and impetuous, might mention summoning a spirit, Granny Su reminded her.
Qiu Heng raised her hand to tidy her stray hairs: "Because I heard that your brother's newly acquired concubine committed suicide to follow him on the seventh day after his death, I was curious about what kind of demeanor your brother must have been to make a woman so infatuated."
Fang Rui's expression suddenly changed: "Who told you that?"
Granny Su's face also turned gloomy.
Qiu Heng seemed oblivious to the change in their expressions, and said calmly, "I heard it from Xue Han."
Judging from Fang Rui's reaction, she seemed to know the inside story as well.
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