Chapter 319 Afu
Wu Qingzhou was chosen by Ling Yun to protect Qiu Heng, which shows he was outstanding among the guards of the Prince's Mansion. After arriving at the Earl's Mansion, he was assigned a small courtyard house to share with two influential stewards.
As they approached the courtyard gate, Fangzhou greeted them with a smile, "Brother Wu, the young lady is here."
Soon, a tall and straight figure strode out of the house. Upon seeing Qiu Heng entering the courtyard, he clasped his hands in a respectful greeting: "Sixth Miss."
Qiu Heng looked at the young man she hadn't seen for some time.
She's lost weight and gotten darker; she looks travel-worn and her haggard appearance is hard to hide.
"Brother Wu, you must be tired from your journey. How are things at home?"
Wu Qingzhou's eyes darkened, but her tone remained calm: "Thank you for your concern, Sixth Miss. My elder brother and sister-in-law... have both passed away."
"My condolences, Brother Wu."
Qiu Heng noticed the timid boy hiding at the doorway: "Is that Brother Wu's nephew?"
Wu Qingzhou turned around and beckoned to the boy: "Afu, come and greet the Sixth Miss."
Ah... Fu?
Qiu Heng felt a sudden boom in her mind and involuntarily took a step back, but her eyes were fixed on the boy who was standing still.
She must have heard correctly; Wu Qingzhou called the boy Afu!
Ah Fu, Uncle Fu—is this a coincidence, or... is Ah Fu the Uncle Fu who taught her all her kung fu skills?
Seeing his nephew standing still, Wu Qingzhou strode over and gently coaxed him, "Afu, don't be afraid. Didn't your uncle tell you on the way here that Sixth Miss is a very kind person..."
Qiu Heng walked over step by step.
Afu tilted his head back, his gaze passing over Wu Qingzhou, landing on Qiu Heng's face with a mixture of curiosity and unease.
Wu Qingzhou turned around following his nephew's gaze and saw Qiu Heng behind him. He explained apologetically, "Ever since the sudden misfortune at home, Afu hasn't talked to anyone much..."
Qiu Heng squatted down to be at eye level with Afu, her voice so soft it seemed to drift away on the wind: "How old is Afu this year?"
Afu remained silent and did not answer.
“Afu is six years old,” Wu Qingzhou said from the side.
Six years old.
That is to say, when she returned more than three years ago, Afu was three years old. And forty years from then on, Afu was in his forties, which is exactly the age of Uncle Fu.
Qiu Heng carefully examined the boy in front of her, from his eyebrows and eyes to his lips, and finally settled on the small mole in the center of his left cheek.
A person's appearance changes drastically from childhood to middle age, but no matter how much it changes, you can still see traces of your childhood self.
Qiu Heng was certain that the boy named Afu in front of her was Uncle Fu.
"Ah, is Ah Fu a nickname? What's your formal name?"
Wu Qingzhou looked puzzled.
In his memory, the sixth young lady was calm and composed, and she seemed unfazed by anything. But this time when she came back, he felt that something was wrong with her.
She looked at her nephew, as if she was about to cry.
Is it out of sympathy for my nephew who lost both parents at such a young age?
Wu Qingzhou subconsciously came up with an excuse, saying, "We don't care about these things at home. Afu's full name is Wu Fu."
"That's a really good name."
Qiu Heng slowly straightened up, suppressing her boiling emotions, and smiled at Afu: "Afu, do you like snacks? I brought you a box of them, they were made by Fangzhou."
Receiving a wink from Qiuheng, Fangzhou opened the food box, revealing a box full of pastries.
"Afu, help yourself to whatever you like to eat." Compared to Qiuheng's soft words, Fangzhou was much more relaxed and easygoing, taking Afu's hand as she spoke.
Afu instinctively tried to pull his hand back, but Fangzhou held on tightly: "Try it, I made it myself. No one would dislike my desserts. Ask your uncle if you don't believe me."
Afu cast a pleading look at Wu Qingzhou.
Wu Qingzhou noticed a glimmer of light in her nephew's eyes, no longer dark and distressing. So she pretended not to notice his troubles and said with a smile, "Sister Fangzhou didn't lie to you. Her pastries are the best in the world, even better than the ones I brought back for you from the Prince's Mansion before."
Afu blinked blankly.
She was only six years old. Although the loss of her parents was a huge blow, the temptation of delicious food was also strong enough.
Ah Fu swallowed hard, remembering the delicious pastries he had eaten before.
Fangzhou immediately picked up a piece of red bean cake and handed it over: "Try it."
Red bean cake, a snack that ordinary families could afford, was more appealing to Afu at that moment than those exquisitely crafted pastries that were too delicate to touch. He hesitated for a moment, then took the red bean cake, took a bite, and then took another big bite.
Wu Qingzhou's eyes welled up with tears as he looked at his nephew.
"Afu, let's go inside to eat. Sister Fangzhou will take you to wash your hands first..."
Knowing that Qiu Heng had something to say to Wu Qingzhou, Fangzhou carried the food box in one hand and pulled Afu into the house with the other.
"Sixth Miss, thank you and Fangzhou. Ever since my brother and sister-in-law passed away, Afu has not had any contact with anyone except me. I have been worried that something might go wrong."
Qiu Heng was in a state of turmoil, but her face remained calm: "Even adults can't withstand such a blow, let alone a child as young as Afu. Brother Wu, don't worry too much, he'll get better with time."
"That's what I think too. Sixth Miss, I have a favor to ask."
"you say."
"I would like to keep Afu by my side for a while, until he recovers a bit, before sending him back to the Prince's Mansion."
“This is hardly an unreasonable request. You are Afu’s closest person. From now on, Afu will stay at the Earl’s residence, and we will send him to school when he is better.”
Wu Qingzhou shook his head: "Afu's path has already been set. His natural talent is even better than mine. He will go to the martial arts hall of the Prince's mansion to hone his skills and become a guard for the Prince's mansion in the future..."
Qiu Heng's pupils dilated, and she murmured, "The guards of the Prince's Mansion—"
Afu will become a guard in the Prince's mansion, and Fu Bo, whom she knows, has always been by her husband's side.
Who is that gentleman?
A guess arose in her mind, and Qiu Heng subconsciously shook her head.
No, the age doesn't match.
Brother Ling is only in his early twenties, how could he be a gentleman over a hundred years old?
Could it be that it's Brother Ling's father, Prince Kang?
How old is Prince Kang now?
Upon suddenly encountering Uncle Fu from her childhood and learning of his connection to the Kang Prince's Mansion, Qiu Heng, usually so composed, could no longer remain calm.
She needs to go to the Prince Kang's residence immediately!
Wu Qingzhou noticed Qiu Heng's unusual behavior and asked with concern, "Sixth Miss, are you alright?"
"fine."
Qiu Heng resisted the urge to turn around and leave. After Fang Zhou pulled A Fu out, she said goodbye to Wu Qingzhou: "You've traveled for so long, get some rest today. Tomorrow, Brother Wu will take A Fu to Lengxiangju, and we'll all have a meal together."
Leaving the courtyard, Fangzhou asked, puzzled, "Miss, is there anything special about Afu?"
The girl wasn't fond of children. When she encountered a child as big as Afu causing trouble in Yunfeng Village, she didn't hold back when beating him up.
"Fangzhou, you go back to Lengxiang Residence first. I'm going out for a bit, and I'll talk to you when I get back."
"It's getting dark, young lady, come back soon."
Qiu Heng hurriedly left the Earl's residence and headed straight for the Prince Kang's residence.
(End of this chapter)
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