Chapter 333 Aheng and Fangzhou
Hu Si, who was guarding Fangzhou, saw Qiu Heng walking towards him.
Her hair had come undone, and her snow-white face was completely expressionless, a chilling blankness.
Hu Si instinctively stepped in front of Fangzhou, unsure how to begin speaking as the girl approached: "Sixth Miss—"
Qiu Heng didn't say a word and pushed Hu Si away.
Familiar dress, familiar figure, familiar face.
The person she grew up with lay there quietly, shattering her last hope.
Large tears streamed down her cheeks, the light in her eyes went out, leaving only broken darkness, yet she curled her lips into a mocking smile.
She should have known; fate never favored her.
If they had been kind to her, they wouldn't have sent her thirty years into the future, to witness a decade of national devastation and widespread suffering. If they had been kind to her, they wouldn't have forced a country girl to shoulder the heavy burden of saving the nation, almost crushing her shoulders. If they had been kind to her, they wouldn't have had her return after ten years to learn of her adoptive father's death and face the death of her adoptive mother.
But she didn't have any high demands, so why did she even want to take Fangzhou with her?
She named Fangzhou herself. At that time, she hadn't read many books, but she really liked one of the lines in the poems that Brother Ling taught her.
I gather fragrant herbs from Du Ruo on the islet.
She named her Fangzhou, and Ah Heng and Fangzhou would always be together.
But in the end, her Yoshiosu died.
Ah Heng and Fang Zhou did not stay together.
A metallic taste rose in her throat, and as she opened her mouth, blood spurted out, landing on Fangzhou's soaked dress.
The pink dress, soaked in water for a long time, was splattered with blood, like specks of red plum blossoms. But it wasn't beautiful; it only evoked a feeling of suffocation and despair.
"Aheng, don't do this." Xue Han hugged Qiu Heng tightly, his heart breaking. "Don't do this..."
He held her in his arms, but felt as if the person in his arms would shatter at the slightest touch.
It's heartbreaking.
He wanted to take her pain upon himself, but he was powerless to do so. Just as he was powerless to help her when she soaked in water to relieve her pain during each attack of her strange illness.
"Aheng, you must pull yourself together. We still need to find the person who harmed Fangzhou." Xue Han tightened his grip on Qiu Heng's arms.
"Xue Han, please help me. Help me find the person who harmed Fangzhou. I'm so tired. I want to take Fangzhou home."
Qiu Heng broke free from Xue Han's embrace, picked up Fang Zhou, and headed towards the Yongqing Marquis's residence.
"Miss, let me carry Sister Fangzhou on my back." Qingluo cried until her voice was hoarse.
Qiu Heng ignored him and walked forward step by step, leaving intermittent water stains on the bluestone path.
"Hu Si, I'm counting on you." Xue Han patted Hu Si on the shoulder.
Hu Si wiped his eyes and said, "My lord, please keep the Sixth Miss company. Leave the rest to me."
Xue Han nodded and caught up with Qiu Heng.
He knew that saying more at this point would be useless; all he could do was stay by his side.
We have arrived at the Yongqing Marquis's residence.
Qiu Heng stopped carrying Fang Zhou and quietly gazed at the gate of the Earl's Mansion.
This place should also be considered her home. There are relatives who prioritize their own interests, and there are relatives who genuinely care for her.
Home is where there is sincerity, and her home is Fangzhou's home.
As Qiu Heng reached the doorway, her vision went black, and she collapsed.
A cacophony of noise filled my ears, followed by silence.
When Qiu Heng woke up again, it was almost evening.
She had a long dream in which her parents held her hands and took her to buy the little donkey she had been longing for. But when they got home, she was holding the hand of a chubby girl, yet she was even happier than when she had bought the donkey.
"Aheng, you're awake."
The confusion in her eyes faded, and Qiu Heng suddenly sat up.
"Where is Fangzhou?"
The lack of sleep had left Xue Han with red eyes and a hoarse voice: "Fangzhou has been placed in the side courtyard."
Qiu Heng got up and ran to the side courtyard.
The main room in the side courtyard had been set up like a mourning hall. Qiu Heng walked to the bed, lifted the white silk covering the deceased's face, revealing a swollen and pale face.
Even though his face was deformed from being in the water all day, he still couldn't deceive himself into thinking that this wasn't Fangzhou.
They knew each other too well.
Mingming made her red bean cakes yesterday morning, and now her Fangzhou is lying motionless on the funeral bed, dressed in her burial clothes and covered with a burial quilt.
How could this happen?
Qiu Heng didn't understand.
Master Qiu had been staying at Lengxiang Residence since Qiu Heng fainted. He followed her to the side courtyard and saw that she was neither crying nor speaking. He cried loudly, "Heng'er, if you are in pain, tell your father. Don't keep it to yourself."
Qiu Heng did not respond.
The old lady came over, as did Qiu Fu and Qiu Ying. Even the eldest madam, Zhao, showed her face when she heard that the sixth young lady had woken up.
People came and went, until finally only Xue Han remained by Qiu Heng's side.
It was completely dark, and the candlelight in the mourning hall was a pale white.
Qiu Heng knelt quietly, her eyes empty, devoid of tears.
Xue Han felt heartbroken and put his hands on her shoulders, saying, "Aheng, you still have me. You still have me."
Qiu Heng slowly raised her eyes and looked at the man who hadn't slept since yesterday. A ripple finally appeared in her empty eyes.
"Xue Han." She moved her lips slightly, "There will be no one to make red bean cakes for me anymore."
"It will happen." Xue Han hugged her.
"Even if it exists, it wasn't made by Fangzhou."
She wanted to cry and scream, but it felt like a stone was blocking her chest, suppressing her reason on the verge of collapse.
She still doesn't know who harmed Fangzhou.
"Xue Han, go back and get some rest. Help me find the murderer as soon as possible."
When she first returned home, facing the death of her adoptive parents, the heavy responsibility on her shoulders made her unable to indulge in grief. She could only grit her teeth and move forward step by step on her own.
Now that the burden has finally been lifted, she can be herself again. Let her lean on someone else's shoulder and be vulnerable for a while.
"Don't worry, Ah Heng, I will definitely find the person who harmed Fangzhou."
Xue Han did not leave; he stayed with Qiu Heng in the mourning hall all night before leaving early in the morning.
When news of the incident in Fangzhou spread, Princess Rongning rushed over and hugged Qiuheng tightly.
She knew that at this point, no amount of words of comfort would be of any use; only time could alleviate the pain.
Ling Yun and the Princess of Jiayi County also paid their respects.
One after another, friends came to visit Qiu Heng. Seeing her condition, they dared not disturb her too much, and left quietly after offering their comfort.
It wasn't until evening that Xue Han appeared before Qiu Heng.
"Aheng, the person who harmed Fangzhou... has been found."
Qiu Heng suddenly stood up, grabbed Xue Han's hand, and asked, word by word, "Where is he?"
"Should we bring her to my old house where she was kept under guard?"
"Take me there, I'll go myself."
Throughout the journey, Qiu Heng kept her lips tightly pressed together and did not ask Xue Han about the murderer.
She wants to ask the murderer herself!
"Aheng, the person is inside." A look of reluctance flashed in Xue Han's eyes.
He has asked all the questions he needed to.
Qiu Heng went inside.
The person trapped inside heard the noise, turned around in alarm, and the two met eyes.
For Qiu Heng, that moment was more shocking than seeing demons or monsters.
"Yunxiang!" She rushed over and grabbed the woman's wrist tightly. "It was you! It was you again!"
(End of this chapter)
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