Chapter 196 Eyebrow Painting
Accidents or suicide are nothing to worry about, but if it's murder, Qiu Heng can't help but overthink it.
Someone like Granny Su must have offended many people, but there's a limit to how much power one can wield by relying on others in the capital. Madam Yang wouldn't let a mere servant tarnish her reputation.
Now that the Prime Minister's residence has fallen, it's unlikely that anyone would hate a mere servant like Granny Su so much that they would want to kill her.
Could that be related to her? Before the treacherous minister fell from power, she was the outsider that Su Mama had the most contact with...
Qiu Heng was not a suspicious person, but she knew that what she was planning was like walking on the edge of an abyss, requiring her to be careful at every step and cautious at every turn, so she couldn't help but overthink it.
"What are you thinking about, young lady?" Fangzhou asked.
"I'm thinking about the death of Granny Su."
Fangzhou was taken aback, then realized: "Does the young lady suspect that Granny Su was murdered?"
Qiu Heng rested her chin on her hand: "That possibility cannot be ruled out."
Fangzhou sat down to the side: "If he was really killed, it must be revenge for offending someone in the past?"
"It's hard to say." Qiu Heng shook her head, then made a decision. "I'll go find Xue Han and ask him to go to Xiangsha River to find out more."
Fang Xiang was exposed by the Imperial City Guard. It was only natural for the Imperial City Guard to investigate after hearing that a prominent servant in the Prime Minister's residence had died a violent death.
Seeing that Fangzhou's expression was a bit strange, Qiuheng asked, "What's wrong?"
“The young lady just said she wouldn’t go out before the New Year,” Fangzhou said with a smile.
Qiu Heng smiled as well: "It seems I shouldn't make any promises too easily. I'll head out now. If anyone comes to Lengxiang Residence looking for me, just say I'm researching a new fragrance..."
Fangzhou was already quite adept at this: "Don't worry, young lady, I know what to say."
Qiu Heng changed into some comfortable clothes, easily climbed over the wall, and contacted Hu Si first.
"Sixth Miss Qiu—ah, she should be called Princess Suiyun—" Hu Si was at a loss for words when facing Qiu Heng.
"Commander Hu, please just call me Miss Qiu Liu. People will pay attention if they hear me addressed as 'County Princess' outside."
Hu Si thought it made sense and suggested, "Then let's call you Sixth Sister. 'Sixth Sister Qiu' is quite easy to get people's attention."
When I first learned about red bean cake, who could have imagined it would become so famous?
"Is the Sixth Miss looking for our master?"
"Hmm, I don't know if he has time."
"Of course there's time, Sixth Miss, please wait a moment."
Qiu Heng didn't have to wait long before Xue Han arrived, and Hu Si wisely withdrew.
"Are you still busy hunting down spies?"
Xue Han nodded: "The Qi people must have a stronghold in the capital. This is the closest we've ever come to them, but unfortunately, we're too late. What does Aheng want with me?"
Seeing his solemn expression, clearly indicating that he had been on edge these past few days, Qiu Heng asked with a smile, "Xue Han, can't I come to you for no reason?"
The girl smiled brightly, her words so direct that Xue Han's ears turned red uncontrollably. After a while, he said, "You can come to me anytime."
It was a simple sentence, but as Xue Han said it, every word felt burning hot. The tension and fatigue from the past few days of searching for spies were burned away by this heart-pounding heat.
Qiu Heng stopped joking: "There is indeed something I would like to trouble you with."
"you say."
"I heard that Granny Su is dead."
Xue Han raised an eyebrow in surprise: "Dead?"
"He drowned. Some say it was an accident, others say it was suicide, but I always felt it wasn't that simple."
"You suspect murder?"
"That's quite possible. If Granny Su was indeed murdered, was it for revenge, or something else?"
Qiu Heng wasn't afraid of Su Mama telling people about her unusual condition; what she feared was if someone came after her, and she was in the open while the enemy was in the shadows.
In this world, she didn't have the family background that people value most as a bargaining chip; she could only rely on herself.
With such a heavy responsibility on her shoulders, she cherished her life and dared not let go of even the slightest suspicion.
"I'm going to Xiangshahe to find out what's going on."
Qiu Heng tentatively asked, "Could you take me with you?"
Xue Han hesitated for a moment before agreeing: "You change into the uniform of an imperial guard and go with Hu Si."
"Okay." Qiu Heng couldn't help but smile. "Xue Han, thank you."
Xue Han's eyes softened with helplessness: "I'll wait outside."
They had been so close, but when they met again, they felt distant, which made him feel anxious and insecure.
Does Ah Heng not like him that much...?
Xue Han suddenly felt a tightness in his chest.
A girl's voice came from behind: "Xue Han, I'm all changed."
Xue Han turned around and frowned slightly as he looked at Qiu Heng, who was dressed in men's clothing.
"What's wrong?" Qiu Heng asked, tilting her head.
The boy stared at her intently and said seriously, "Too delicate, not like it."
Qiu Heng sighed, "There's nothing I can do; I don't have anything on hand to modify my eyebrows, eyes, or face shape."
"There's charcoal ash, wait a moment."
Xue Han went out and came back in, holding a piece of charred charcoal: "Close your eyes."
Qiu Heng closed her eyes and slightly raised her head.
Xue Han held up the charcoal stick, his gaze unconsciously falling on her lips.
Perhaps it was the cold weather, or perhaps she was suffering from a strange illness, but her lips were very pale, so pale that his heart tightened unconsciously, and he forgot everything else.
Qiu Heng waited for a while without any movement, then opened her eyes: "Xue Han?"
Xue Han snapped out of her reverie, the blush spreading from the tips of her ears to her cheeks: "I'm thinking about how to draw it—"
"I can do it myself." Qiu Heng reached for the charcoal stick in Xue Han's hand, unconsciously tightening her grip on the stick.
Qiu Heng was puzzled at first, but then a flash of inspiration struck her and she realized something.
He probably wasn't thinking again—
Just as she was lost in thought, Xue Han shoved the charcoal stick into Qiu Heng's hand and explained calmly, "I haven't drawn it."
Qiu Heng was both amused and exasperated. She pinched the charcoal stick and drew on the basin of water, finally smearing some black ash on her face.
"Is it alright?"
Xue Han was quite surprised: "You can't tell the difference without looking closely."
Qiu Heng smiled and said, "It seems my skills haven't gotten rusty."
Those ten years were difficult for the people of Xia, and even more difficult for the women of Xia. She almost always appeared in men's clothing when she went out.
"Did Ah Heng often dress up as a man before?"
Qiu Heng's eyes flickered slightly: "When I was young, I was mischievous and thought it was fun to dress up as a boy."
"The skin tone isn't applied evenly," Xue Han pointed out a minor flaw.
Qiu Heng glanced at him: "There aren't even any mirrors here."
"Let me help you with that." Xue Han raised his hand, his fingertips gently brushing across Qiu Heng's cheek.
Qiu Heng held her breath and remained motionless, silently watching the person so close to her.
He was tall, but his shoulders were still thin like a young man's. His clear eyes had lost their usual sharpness and were now gentle and focused.
Qiu Heng suddenly felt happy.
It's like a student burdened by heavy schoolwork, who occasionally notices beautiful birds perched on branches outside the window, and knows they shouldn't, yet can't help but be distracted.
Xue Han is really handsome.
"Alright—" Xue Han was stunned when he met Qiu Heng's gaze.
Why does Ah Heng see him like that...?
"Xue Han".
"Mm," Xue Han replied.
"Would you like to... learn how to draw eyebrows?"
After Qiu Heng finished speaking, she walked out quickly without waiting for Xue Han's reaction.
Hu Si was greatly shocked when he saw Qiu Heng come out: "Sixth Miss?"
"Does it look like it?" Qiu Heng asked with a smile.
"Yes!" Hu Simeng nodded, peering inside. "Where are our adults?"
The red bean cake must have something to do dressed up like this, but no adults are coming out. Could it be that he is asked to accompany him?
(End of this chapter)
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