Chapter 293 Elixir
Xue Han didn't come out alone; Xue Quan was with him.
Xue Quan spotted the girl waiting outside and his mouth twisted in anger.
After his men went in and whispered a few words to him, this kid came out in such a hurry because he had an appointment with Qiu Heng.
She ran to the entrance of the government office to wait for the man to arrive, you shameless brat.
"Is the Princess of Suiyun looking for Xue Han?" Xue Quan spoke first, his tone indifferent.
Qiu Heng gave Xue Quan a deep look.
Judging from Xue Quan's appearance, Emperor Jingping is indeed alright.
Xue Quan frowned as Qiu Heng stared at him.
What wicked scheme is this girl plotting now?
"There's a noodle shop that's pretty good. I'll invite Xue Han to try it."
"Eat noodles?" Xue Quan scoffed. "Xue Han's been busy lately."
"not busy."
Xue Quan turned his head to look at Xue Han.
Xue Han coughed lightly: "I haven't been very busy these past two days."
Xue Quan felt a lump in his throat.
That lustful bastard!
"Eunuch Xue, if you're not busy, would you like to come along?"
Xue Quan turned his head and looked at Qiu Heng with disbelief in his eyes.
Did he mishear?
"Eunuch Xue?"
"No need, you guys go ahead and eat," Xue Quan said through gritted teeth, then turned and left.
How could there be such a woman who, without any betrothal or marriage arrangements, not only came to him to invite his son to dinner, but also invited him along?
A sigh came from behind: "What a pity."
Xue Quan paused, his face darkening, and then walked even faster.
Xue Han walked beside Qiu Heng and said helplessly, "Your adoptive father seems to be quite angry with you."
"I sincerely invited Eunuch Xue to come along." Qiu Heng's gaze was still following the departing figure.
Most of her questions fell on Xue Quan, but unfortunately she had no opportunity to get to know him.
Xue Han's lips twitched.
He had been worried that Ah Heng would suffer if she ran into her adoptive father, but now it seems that he had worried too much.
In the noodle shop, Qiu Heng ordered a bowl of fish ball noodles and ate it slowly.
"Is it tasty?"
Xue Han finished his bowl of noodles, wiped his mouth, and said, "Delicious. This noodle shop is in a remote location and it's newly opened. It's amazing that Fangzhou was able to find it."
Qiu Heng smiled: "Before going to Xijiang, Fangzhou said she wanted to learn how to make new desserts and make them for me when I came back. Since then, she has developed a hobby of searching for delicious food in the streets and alleys."
Fangzhou is determined to become the best pastry chef, and she also wants to take on a good-natured and talented apprentice so that when she gets old, her apprentice can take over and make pastries for her.
What is Ah Heng's favorite snack?
Qiu Heng thought for a moment and said, "The most palatable one is still red bean cake."
Red bean cake changed her fate, and it also changed Xue Han's fate. To her, it was no longer just an ordinary pastry.
Stepping out of the noodle shop, Qiu Heng avoided the playful children chasing each other and asked, seemingly casually, "How is His Majesty's health?"
Xue Han's heart stirred, and he looked at Qiu Heng with deep thought in his eyes.
This was the second time that Aheng had asked about the Emperor's health.
He had actually noticed that Ah Heng was preoccupied with something. Could this preoccupation be related to the Emperor?
Thinking these things to himself, Xue Han's expression remained unchanged: "His Majesty's health should have greatly improved."
Qiu Heng paused, her surprise undisguised.
"I haven't seen His Majesty much during his illness, but my adoptive father has been worried about his health. However, he seemed to be in good spirits today, which suggests that His Majesty's health has improved."
Qiu Heng unconsciously pursed her lips tightly.
Not only did he not die, but he actually got better?
Even after adjusting her mindset since yesterday, Qiu Heng still felt a sudden urge to kill the emperor.
A hand landed on her shoulder.
"Aheng, you can tell me what's wrong, and we'll face it together."
Qiu Heng looked up and met Xue Han's eyes.
Those eyes were clear and pure, full of sincerity.
Qiu Heng felt a pang of bitterness in her heart.
At this point, Xue Quan was already involved, and it was impossible for her to bypass Xue Han, who was Xue Quan's adopted son.
She could pretend she knew nothing and wait for Xue Quan to send Emperor Jingping on his way, but she was unwilling to use Xue Han to harm Xue Quan.
"Xue Han, do you remember during the autumn hunt? I dreamt that something happened to the Crown Prince."
"Of course I remember." Xue Han's expression changed slightly. "Did Ah Heng have that kind of dream again?"
"Yes, this time I dreamt of the current emperor." Qiu Heng paused before continuing, "I dreamt that the current emperor died around this time, Eunuch Xue also died, and you—"
"Am I dead too?" Xue Han asked calmly, but his heart was aching.
With Ah Heng around, he had no desire to die.
"You killed Prince Fu, and were killed by a hail of arrows."
She only had two choices: either lie to Xue Han to push Xue Quan back onto the right path, or confess part of the truth to Xue Han and work together.
She chose the latter.
During the autumn hunt, she and Xue Han were separated by so many thoughts, yet Xue Han was still willing to believe in her so-called dream. Now that they have been through so much together, she should believe in him.
Xue Han was taken aback: "Why would I kill Prince Fu?"
Qiu Heng shook her head: "I don't know, that's how it was in my dream."
"Speaking of which, when we sent people to investigate the past of Master Miaoqing of Lingwei Temple, we found that before Master Miaoqing came to the capital, her long-term residence was the place where the Princess Consort of Fu's family lived..."
Xue Han's mention of Master Miaoqing was not a whim, but rather a recent occurrence of Taoist priests entering and leaving the palace, with Master Miaoqing herself having entered the palace yesterday. In Aheng's dream, at this time, the current emperor died, her adoptive father died, Prince Fu died, and she herself died; all these events were like scattered pearls, lacking only a thread to string them together.
“It seems that Prince Fu and Master Miaoqing may have known each other for a long time.” Qiu Heng tugged at Xue Han’s sleeve. “Xue Han, why don’t you go and ask Eunuch Xue why His Majesty has improved?”
Asking directly is also a good approach.
It's simple and effective, but it depends on who you're asking. If just anyone asks, Xue Quan will probably kill them...
Therefore, we still need Xue Han.
Xue Han found an opportunity to inquire with Xue Quan the next day.
"My father has been in a very good mood these past two days."
Xue Quan was smug, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up: "His Majesty has been ill for a long time, but now he is much better, so I am naturally happy."
"His Majesty is blessed with great fortune; things will surely get better."
Hearing this, Xue Quan felt a little itchy, but ultimately didn't say anything more: "Hmm."
Xue Han looked curious: "I heard that the Venerable Mingwei of Yuzhao Temple has been refining elixirs for His Majesty. Could His Majesty's improved health be related to this?"
"Bullshit."
Xue Quan cursed, then met Xue Han's puzzled gaze, and the frustration of being out in the dark in fine clothes suddenly intensified.
Where did you hear that from?
Xue Han looked completely innocent: "I just happened to overhear two eunuchs talking."
Xue Quan sneered: "These days, we've been busy with the Imperial Concubine's funeral, and the Emperor is ill. These little brats have become too arrogant."
Thinking there was no point in hiding it from his adopted son, Xue Quan snorted lightly: "His Majesty's recovery is indeed due to the miraculous medicine he took, but it has nothing to do with the True Person Mingwei. It was a good medicine that I obtained and presented to His Majesty."
Xue Han's expression changed: "Father, this concerns His Majesty's health; we cannot eat foreign things indiscriminately—"
"What do you mean by eating random things?" Xue Quan took out a porcelain bottle from his pocket. "This elixir was refined by True Person Miaoqing, and it is much better than the pills refined by True Person Mingwei."
(End of this chapter)
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