Chapter 289 has nothing to do with our Earl's Mansion
On Imperial Street, countless lanterns still burned, and the lingering smell of fireworks hung in the air. But the atmosphere at Lehua Tower was somber and oppressive, as if a storm was brewing.
The noble ladies, gathered together, watched nervously as a group of guards approached.
Xue Han walked at the front, his gaze meeting Qiu Heng's. He stopped and said, "It's late. Ladies, please go home and get some rest. Tomorrow I may need to ask you about what happened upstairs at Lehua Tower tonight."
The noble ladies present were among the most elite in the capital, and it was impossible for them to be questioned by the Imperial City Guard. However, considering that the one who got into trouble was the Imperial Concubine, everything seemed to make sense.
Anyway, the Consort's accident has nothing to do with them.
Thinking about it this way, the women even felt a bit of anticipation for the questions they would be asked tomorrow.
Such a huge event would make anyone gasp just hearing about it; I never imagined they were actually eyewitnesses.
Xue Han had expected these proud young women to be dissatisfied with his words, but he saw a hint of excitement in their eyes. Confused for a moment, he approached Qiu Heng.
Wow, Lord Xue and Miss Qiu are really together!
The women all took a step back in unison, showing remarkable tacit understanding.
Xue Han paused for a moment and asked Qiu Heng, "Is the county princess feeling any better?"
"I'm completely healed now."
"Then head back early. I'll be very busy tonight, so I'm sorry I can't see you off."
"It's alright, you go ahead and do your work. A lot of people have come to admire the lanterns at home, I'll go find them."
"Be careful." After saying this, Xue Han nodded slightly to Princess Rongning and the others, then turned and left.
Qiu Heng pretended not to notice the gossip burning in the eyes of the other women and took her leave of Princess Rongning.
Princess Rongning squeezed her hand: "Be careful on the road."
Qiu Heng walked along the Imperial Street and saw Qiu Yang and the others waiting ahead.
"Sixth Sister, over here," Qiu Yang called out.
As Qiu Heng walked over, she was immediately surrounded by her brothers and sisters.
"Sixth Sister, are you alright?" Qiu Yang asked, her face filled with worry. "Did assassins infiltrate Lehua Tower? We just saw a lot of people running upstairs from a distance..."
As for the sounds, I didn't hear much; the Imperial Street was just too noisy.
"There are assassins mixed in; it seems someone is in trouble."
"Oh my god." Qiu Ying clutched her chest. "An assassin actually managed to infiltrate Lehua Tower! The person who got into trouble must be someone extraordinary. Thank goodness you're alright, Sixth Sister."
Qiu Heng glanced back at the direction of Lehua Tower. Although she couldn't see Xue Han, she knew he must be there.
"Both the Palace Guard and the Imperial City Guard are searching for assassins. It's going to be very chaotic tonight. Let's go back early."
Hearing Qiu Heng say this, Qiu Yang immediately said, "Sixth Sister is right, we should go back as soon as possible."
As the eldest of the three brothers, he naturally had to take care of his siblings.
On the way back, Qiusong kept asking questions.
"Sixth Sister, who was in trouble?"
"Sixth Sister, have you seen the assassin?"
"Sixth Sister—"
Qiu Fu slapped Qiu Song on the mouth: "Shut up."
Upon arriving at the Earl's residence, Qiu Heng said, "Don't tell Grandmother about Lehua Tower beforehand, lest it disturb her sleep."
"Then let's talk to Grandma and the others first thing tomorrow morning," Qiusong said, sounding impatient.
Qiu Heng realized that she couldn't hide this from her, so she agreed: "Then I'll go and pay my respects to my grandmother tomorrow morning."
Qiu Fu and Qiu Ying exchanged a glance and couldn't help but twitch their lips.
It's hard to understand, but Sixth Sister doesn't usually have to greet her grandmother!
After her brothers and sisters dispersed, Qiu Heng returned to Lengxiang Residence, washed up, and sat on the bed in a snow-white undergarment, lost in thought.
Fangzhou walked over and sat down next to Qiuheng.
"Young lady, are you feeling distressed because you killed Consort Yu?"
Qiu Heng snapped out of her reverie and met Fang Zhou's worried gaze. She didn't hide anything: "I feel a little unwell."
Every time she closes her eyes, she sees the scene of her mother's last moments.
"Mother fears that we sisters might not recognize each other if we met. If she could know this in the afterlife, she would surely wish that we had never met."
She ultimately failed her mother's wishes, killing their own daughter with her own hands.
“Girl, if you’re feeling down, just cry. You can lean on my shoulder. But don’t be too upset. Consort Yu is trying to harm you first. If you don’t kill her, she will continue to harm you.”
“I know.” Qiu Heng leaned gently against Fang Zhou. “I know everything.”
She knew all those principles.
"Don't worry, I'm just a little upset, but I don't regret it at all."
Every step she takes forward is the best choice she can make.
The next morning, the old lady suddenly noticed that her grandchildren arrived much earlier to pay their respects, and didn't leave after they finished.
What do these children mean? Do they want to stay and have breakfast with her?
As the old lady was pondering this, Qiuheng came in.
"Sixth Sister is here!" Qiu Song jumped up.
The old lady couldn't help but smile when she saw her grandson like this.
Yesterday, only Heng'er was allowed to climb the tower to admire the lanterns; she was curious about what was happening up there.
"Greetings to Grandmother." Qiu Heng bowed, and seeing the old lady's kind face, with Qiu Fu and the others staring at her expectantly, she was speechless.
Is this a case of insisting on waiting for her to arrive before making a decision?
"Heng'er, come and sit down. Wasn't it interesting to go up the tower to admire the lanterns last night?"
Qiu Heng thought about all the storms the old lady had weathered, so she said directly, "Yesterday, assassins infiltrated Lehua Tower, and it was quite chaotic. It seems someone got into trouble. Princess Rongning and I ran downstairs first, but we don't know who it was."
The old lady's smile froze, her head buzzed, and she asked slowly, word by word, "Are you saying that assassins have infiltrated the Lehua Tower that His Majesty ascended?"
"Um."
"Someone else has been in trouble."
"Yes, many people who went upstairs were kept behind. The women of each household were allowed to go home first, because they were told they would be called in for questioning today."
The old lady's lips trembled, and she took a sip of tea without saying a word.
So there's no such thing as a peaceful and carefree life; I just didn't tell her last night...
Who was involved in the accident?
Not long after Qiu Heng was taken away by the officials, Yongqing Bo, who had run back from outside, told the old lady the answer.
"Consort Yu has been attacked and killed!"
The old lady grabbed Yongqing Earl's wrist: "Who are you talking about?"
"Consort Yu! The Emperor's most beloved Consort Yu!" The Earl of Yongqing sat down abruptly and poured himself a cup of tea.
The old lady, who had stood up in shock, slumped back into her chair, her eyes glazed over.
Consort Yu is dead!
Others may not know, but doesn't she? Sixth Sister's illness started after she returned from Yu Chen Palace.
What did Sixth Sister say back then?
Consort Yu gave her a cup of tea that might be problematic!
She remained skeptical for several months, and then Consort Yu died—
The old lady's face gradually turned pale, and her heart was filled with turmoil.
So it's true that Consort Yu wanted to harm Sixth Girl, otherwise she wouldn't have died!
The Earl of Yongqing was puzzled by the old lady's reaction: "Why do you look so pale? Although the assassination of Consort Yu was a major event that shocked the court and the public, it has nothing to do with our Earl's mansion—"
He was startled back by the old lady's piercing gaze.
"W-what's wrong?"
"You know nothing!"
(End of this chapter)
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