Chapter 29 Red Bean Cake
Qiu Heng had to be wary of Xue Han's identity as the Imperial City Envoy.
But she remained composed, and smiled as she said, "I'm not injured. Why would Lord Xue ask that?"
"I..." Xue Han looked at the composed girl, without mentioning that he smelled blood.
They weren't close, and saying it would make him seem a bit abnormal—although many people thought he was abnormal.
"If there's nothing else, Lord Xue, I'll get in the carriage."
"Oh, Miss Qiu, take care."
Qiu Heng boarded the carriage, the wheels rolled forward, and the curtains were lifted.
"Lord Xue," she called out to Xue Han.
Xue Han strode over: "Is there anything else, Miss Qiu Liu?"
A package wrapped in oiled paper was handed out of the carriage window: "Lord Xue has helped me many times. I am but a small man and have nothing to repay you with, so please have some red bean cake."
Fangzhou can make many kinds of desserts, but the ones she makes most often are chestnut cake and red bean cake. The reason is simple: she loves to eat them.
Xue Han's gaze lingered on the package of pastries for a moment before he reached out and took it, saying, "Thank you, Miss Qiu Liu."
He put away the red bean cakes, nodded to Qiu Heng, and left without looking back.
The speed of his actions made Qiu Heng wonder: Could it be that he was afraid of being seen accepting bribes?
It's just a packet of red bean cakes.
The car curtains were drawn and swayed in the wind. Qiu Heng leaned against the car wall, closed her eyes, and truly felt relaxed.
Once inside the city, they were completely free.
As for Han Ziheng being questioned and Zhilan and the others being interrogated, that's none of her business.
Han Ziheng's life was spared by her on purpose.
It would be a pity if a nobleman who treats human life like dirt died without experiencing the taste of losing power.
The carriage merged into the crowd and gradually disappeared into the distance.
Xue Han leaned against the city wall and opened the oil paper package, revealing the red bean cake inside.
Not the kind of exquisitely designed pastries that make you hesitant to eat them, but rather ordinary-looking desserts.
The boy stared at the pastries for a long time before finally picking one up and slowly putting it into his mouth.
Sweet and soft, the red bean cake made by Fangzhou was undoubtedly delicious, but the boy who was eating the snack with his eyes closed frowned and looked like he was suffering from a deep resentment.
"My lord—" The young man who came over stared wide-eyed at the sight of the pastries in Xue Han's hand. "You, you have red bean cake!"
It's unbelievable! Once, when they were on a mission together, he brought red bean cakes to stave off hunger, but when he offered them to the adults, they preferred to go hungry rather than eat them.
Xue Han glanced disdainfully at his loud and boisterous subordinate and said dismissively, "I like it."
The young man looked on incredulously.
He gave the adults red bean cakes back then, and what did the adults say?
I don't want to eat it; it makes me nauseous.
"Could this red bean cake be particularly delicious?" The young man was so curious that he reached out to touch a piece and eat it.
Xue Han put away the oil paper package: "Get to work."
The young man's hand hung in mid-air.
After Qiu Heng returned to the Yongqing Marquis's residence, bathed and changed, she was summoned by the old lady.
"You're back?" The old lady raised her eyelids slightly when she saw Qiu Heng enter, her tone neither warm nor cold.
Perhaps because things went smoothly, Qiu Heng noticed a hint of kindness in the old lady's dark face and gracefully bowed, saying, "Grandmother."
The old lady paused for a moment.
Why did she detect a hint of coquetry in her voice?
In the old lady's eyes, this granddaughter was reckless, lacked manners, was audacious, and was particularly wicked.
Suddenly being treated like a proper granddaughter made her feel a little uneasy.
After a moment of silence, the old lady spoke: "Although your grandfather said you are a person of principle and shouldn't be too restrained, you can't be running around outside all the time. Putting aside everything else, you've seriously offended Commander Han by suing Han Ziheng, and Han Ziheng is a lawless playboy in the capital. If you get tricked outside, you'll have nowhere to cry..."
Qiu Heng listened obediently without uttering a single rebuttal.
The old lady said she was tired, and she was quite satisfied with her granddaughter's attitude. She picked up her tea, took a couple of sips, and was about to let the person leave when Yongqingbo came in.
"The Lord is back." The old lady put down her teacup and stood up.
But Yongqingbo only had eyes for Qiuheng: "Heng'er is here too."
He spoke without blinking, which made the old lady uneasy again: It really seemed like he was possessed; perhaps she should consult a shaman. At worst, she could prepare a bowl of dog's blood to throw on the old man and see what happens, but then it would be difficult to explain…
Facing the Earl of Yongqing, Qiuheng's attitude was somewhat cold: "Yes, come and keep Grandmother company."
Only then did Yongqingbo look at the old lady.
"Sixth Sister just came back from going out early this morning. I gave her a few instructions." The old lady noticed that Qiu Heng was more obedient in front of her than in front of Yongqing Earl, and her mood improved subtly.
"Heng'er, you should go back to Lengxiang Residence first." The old lady dismissed Qiu Heng, and seeing that the Earl of Yongqing was still staring at the door, she casually complained, "Earl, you shouldn't spoil Sixth Girl too much. She runs off every few days. What if she runs into the Han family—"
Seeing the old man's strange expression, the old lady stopped talking and gave him a questioning look.
Yongqingbo let out a long sigh and delivered the news that made him rush home: "Han Wu is dead!"
"Who?" The old lady wondered if she had misheard. "That Han, Commander Han?"
Marquis Yongqing nodded emphatically: "It's that Commander Han!"
The old lady still couldn't believe it: "This can't be! How did he die?"
"He was assassinated! His son went on a trip to the countryside with some friends yesterday, but he went missing..."
Upon hearing this, the old lady gasped: "How could there be such audacious villains right under the emperor's nose!"
“Who says otherwise?” Uncle Yongqing sat down in the chair, feeling uneasy.
That was a high-ranking official of the second rank, one of the three marshals, and he was killed just like that?
It is said that it was most likely done by spies from the Northern Qi Dynasty!
Hiss—what if a spy is watching him?
As the Earl of Yongqing was lost in thought, the old lady spoke with a complicated expression: "So, our Earl's mansion no longer needs to worry about the Han family's revenge?"
"Yes!" The old woman finally realized the key, and Uncle Yongqing burst into laughter.
He was worried about being retaliated against by Han Wu, but in the blink of an eye, Han Wu was dead, while he had made a connection with the Grand Eunuch Xue Quan.
What incredible luck to have only benefits and no hidden dangers!
The old lady found the noisy laughter unbearable: "Lord, please don't laugh like that—"
“You don’t understand.” Uncle Yongqing downed a cup of tea, feeling refreshed.
How could this woman with long hair and short wits know that it was Liu Yatou's arrangement to sue Han Wu's son, Han Ziheng?
Hmm, we should reward Sixth Sister.
"Sixth Miss has just returned and is not well-off. Madam, please make her a few sets of jewelry and headwear so that when she goes out, people will think our Earl's Mansion is shabby."
The old lady was stunned.
Is Sixth Sister poor? If I remember correctly, she just received a thousand taels of silver, while her granddaughters' monthly allowance is only two taels, not to mention that the third brother, that fool, sent all the money he had for buying wine to Lengxiangju.
"How many sets?" the old lady squeezed out the two words through gritted teeth.
"Ten or eight sets will suffice."
"Ten or eight sets will suffice—" The old lady took a deep breath and, after the Earl of Yongqing left, immediately instructed her trusted servant: "Quickly go and find a pure black dog."
This blood must be splashed!
(End of this chapter)
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