Chapter 201 New Year's Wishes
When Consort Yu suddenly asked this question, everyone's eyes turned to Qiu Heng.
The old lady gripped her chopsticks tightly, her heart pounding in her chest.
What's going on? Why did the Imperial Concubine suddenly ask about Sixth Sister?
Under countless gazes, Qiu Heng had no choice but to rise and bow: "Your subject Qiu Heng wishes Your Highness a healthy and peaceful new year."
"I heard that you have been granted the title of County Princess?"
"I am deeply grateful for His Majesty's grace, but I am unworthy of it."
After listening to Qiu Heng's reply, the noble ladies exchanged glances secretly.
Everyone says that Miss Qiu is unruly and audacious, but she seems to have handled things quite appropriately. This is the Imperial Concubine, after all; even many noble ladies are nervous when speaking to her.
"Unworthy of such an honor?" Consort Yu smiled gently. "You are too modest. What Miss Qiu has done is truly a good deed for the country and its people. Hmm, your title is—"
"Your subject's title follows the clouds."
"Suiyun—" Consort Yu lazily propped her chin up with one hand, as if this were not a solemn occasion for congratulating the newly appointed officials, but rather a private chat. "The title is quite nice, I like it."
The ladies looked at each other, utterly bewildered.
The unpredictable and powerful Imperial Concubine is surprisingly kind to Miss Qiu.
But that doesn't make sense. During the autumn hunt, the Imperial Concubine had already lashed out at Consort Qiu.
As everyone thought of the autumn hunt, Consort Yu brought it up: "During the autumn hunt, Princess Suiyun was there, and every day was fresh and interesting. Now that we're back in the palace, it feels like nothing's new anymore. After the Lantern Festival, when things are less busy, Princess Suiyun can come to the palace to keep me company."
The old lady's expression changed slightly upon hearing this, and her heart was filled with turmoil.
Following the crowd to pay homage to the emperor was already nerve-wracking, and now they actually want the sixth daughter to enter the palace after the fifteenth?
Qiu Heng was also surprised by Consort Yu's words and fell silent for a moment.
Consort Yu raised an eyebrow: "What, Princess Suiyun is unwilling?"
The scene suddenly became extremely quiet.
The old lady's heart clenched, and she stared anxiously at Qiu Heng.
Could Sixth Sister really refuse the Imperial Concubine in public? I can't even imagine the consequences!
Fortunately, Qiu Heng quickly smiled and said, "It is my honor to be able to enter the palace and accompany the Imperial Concubine."
The tense atmosphere dissipated with Consort Yu's smile: "Then I'll be waiting for you."
Afterwards, Consort Yu withdrew her attention from Qiu Heng and accepted the toast from the noble lady with a slight smile.
After the banquet, most of the noblewomen were led out of the palace by palace servants, while those with daughters in the palace could stay and have a private chat.
Qiu Heng went with the old lady to Qiu Meiren's place.
It was Zheng Yu who led the two inside. After greeting the old lady, he greeted Qiu Heng with genuine warmth: "Happy New Year, Sixth Miss."
"Happy New Year, Eunuch Zheng." Qiu Heng skillfully took out a few goldfish from her purse and handed them to Zheng Yu.
The old lady's eyelids twitched as she read it.
"Sixth Sister—"
Qiu Heng smiled lightly: "Happy New Year, may Eunuch Zheng have abundance every year."
Zheng Yu then put it away and followed closely beside Qiu Heng.
The old lady had mixed feelings because of her youngest granddaughter's thriving life, but her feelings became even more complicated when she saw her eldest granddaughter, who looked disheveled and miserable.
"Grandmother, Sixth Sister." Seeing the old lady and Qiu Heng, Qiu Meiren's eyes lit up.
With no outsiders present, the old lady carefully examined Qiu Meiren and asked in a low voice, "Has someone made things difficult for you?"
Qiu Meiren smiled and said, "No, it's been very peaceful these days."
Although she wasn't punished after the wooden doll incident, everyone in the palace knew she had fallen out of favor. Even without deliberate attempts to make things difficult for her, her life was unlikely to be easy.
But there was no need to tell her family about these things. Qiu Meiren even felt that it was good to be able to live peacefully like this.
"At today's banquet, Consort Yu suggested that your sixth sister come to the palace to accompany her after the fifteenth. He'er, what do you think?"
Qiu Meiren was not qualified to attend the banquet. Upon hearing this, she was stunned and had a bad feeling: "Consort Yu is deeply favored by the Emperor and her mood is unpredictable. Sixth Sister must be careful and not go against her."
Before the New Year, a concubine, taking advantage of her pregnancy, acted a little too arrogantly in front of Consort Yu, and was then fed a bowl of abortion medicine.
People in the palace became even more aware of how terrifying Consort Yu was.
It is not uncommon for favored concubines to trample on lower-ranking concubines, but to openly harm imperial heirs and yet the emperor shows no remorse is truly chilling.
This means there's no reasoning with Consort Shangyu; her words are the only truth.
After hearing about the concubine's affair from Qiu Meiren, on the way back to the Marquis's residence, the old lady looked at Qiu Heng and wanted to sigh, but since Qiu Heng hadn't provoked it, she had no reason to scold her.
Back at the Earl's residence, the family finally began to celebrate the New Year in a lively and festive manner.
Qiu Heng received many gifts, and gave away various fragrant pendants.
Fangzhou looked at the magpie-patterned pendant again and again, admiring it dearly: "Does the young lady think the red or orange tassel looks better?"
"It's red, isn't it?"
"Yes, magpies on plum blossoms, the red is just right." Fangzhou nodded in satisfaction, then noticed a dark brown pendant with indigo tassels and asked curiously, "Who is this pendant for, young lady?"
If she wasn't mistaken, there were magpies on this pendant as well, but hers was egg-shaped while this one was rectangular, and its color and shape clearly indicated that it was suitable for a man to wear.
"Give this to Lord Xue, young lady?" Fangzhou suddenly realized.
Holding the sachet, Qiu Heng readily admitted, "Yes, it's for Xue Han."
Fangzhou spoke up for Qiuheng, saying, "You prepared a New Year's gift for him with great care, but he didn't show up before or after the New Year. He's not even as good as Prince Ling, who gave you a box of gold beads as New Year's money on New Year's Eve."
Qiu Heng smiled and agreed, "He is not as good as Brother Ling."
Since that day they went to the mass grave, she had never seen Xue Han again. It's no wonder Fangzhou thought that way; she also thought they would meet at the beginning of the year.
They've all grown a year older.
If Qiu Heng were to explain for Xue Han, Fang Zhou would scold him even more harshly, but hearing Qiu Heng say this, Fang Zhou felt sorry for him instead.
"How about I make some snacks and send them to Hu Si to ask about the situation?"
“Commander Hu has helped us a lot, so it’s only right that we send him New Year’s gifts. Make a few savory and a few sweet ones and have Granny Yu deliver them.”
"Then Lord Xue—"
"No need to ask. He's a man of his word, he probably can't spare the time."
Qiu Heng put away the fragrant pendant she had prepared for Xue Han.
Before we knew it, it was the Lantern Festival, and the sisters went to see the lanterns together.
The dazzling lantern mountain, as tall as a three-story building, attracted countless people to stop and admire it.
Qiu Ying was eager to try guessing the riddles, but couldn't figure out the answers, so she asked her sisters for help.
A man wearing a tiger mask walked past Qiu Heng.
Qiu Heng glanced at it and then chased after it under the pretext of buying candied hawthorns.
The Lantern Festival was packed with people, and the man disappeared in just a short while.
Qiu Heng frowned.
Could it be that they admitted they were wrong?
Although he was wearing a mask, he felt all too familiar to her. And those clothes—she clearly recognized Xue Han wearing them.
Just then, a voice entered my ears: "Aheng".
Qiu Heng turned her head and saw Xue Han standing not far away, looking at her with a smile on his lips.
Qiu Heng walked over, looked at the mask in Xue Han's hand, and asked in puzzlement, "Xue Han, are you testing my eyesight?"
Xue Han handed over another mask: "Aheng, may the New Year bring you good fortune."
(End of this chapter)
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