Chapter 34 An Unfortunate Marriage
In the elegant room of the teahouse, amidst the wafting aroma of tea, young men and women sat facing each other.
"Fangzhou made some red bean cakes." Qiuheng pushed the food box over.
"Thank you." Xue Han concealed the embarrassment he felt when his subordinates excitedly told him about the arrival of the red bean cake, and thanked them calmly.
"It's not even a thank-you gift, Lord Xue, you're too kind." After exchanging pleasantries, Qiu Heng explained her purpose: "If Lord Xue has the time and it's convenient for you, I would like to ask you to help investigate someone."
When it comes to investigators, the Imperial City Guard is undoubtedly the best.
"who?"
"The fourth young master of the Marquis of Xiping's mansion." Since she had asked for help, Qiu Heng didn't try to hide anything. "His family sent a matchmaker to their door to ask for my second sister's hand in marriage. I want to get to know this fourth young master and see if he is a good match for me."
"Okay," the boy readily agreed.
Qiu Heng took out a silver note from her purse and handed it over.
"What's this?"
"Two hundred taels of silver notes, as a token of appreciation for Lord Xue's hard work."
Xue Han stared at the silver note for a while, then his lips twitched slightly: "No need."
"I feel bad for asking Lord Xue for help for nothing."
“If Miss Qiu feels bad about it—” Xue Han’s eyes flickered, “Did you bring any loose silver? One tael of silver will be enough for me.”
Han Ziheng compensated her with one thousand taels of silver, which would last her a long time.
"One tael?" Qiu Heng pursed her lips and took out a piece of silver from her purse.
With such a small fee, one can feel Xue Han's kindness even more.
Regardless of the reason for this kindness, she would not be aloof and refuse help if she could receive it.
She will rely on herself, but she will never rely solely on herself.
Seeing that Xue Han accepted the silver, Qiu Heng thanked him again: "Thank you for your trouble. I will wait for news from Lord Xue."
"Sixth Miss Qiu." Xue Han called out to the girl who was about to get up and leave.
Qiu Heng met his dark eyes.
"Should we investigate Young Master Cui?" the young man asked.
Qiu Heng's eyes flickered slightly.
As expected of the Imperial City Guard, they even have this small matter under their control.
Xue Han noticed that the girl in front of him had a strange misunderstanding about the Imperial City Guard, but he was not going to explain.
He also found it difficult to explain.
He waited for her response.
Should I check it out, or... am I very satisfied?
"No need." Upon hearing this, Qiu Heng seemed to see the boy's eyes darken.
“That Cui Er… is not a good match.”
Qiu Heng smiled and said, "Thank you for the reminder, Lord Xue. My grandfather is already prepared to refuse."
A smile unconsciously appeared on the boy's lips: "It's good that your grandfather has the discerning eye to recognize talent."
"Then I will wait for Lord Xue's news."
"good."
Xue Han did not see Qiu Heng downstairs. After she left, he opened the food box and ate the red bean cake with tea.
The young man pushed open the door and craned his neck to look at the food box on the table: "It really is red bean cake!"
"Hu Si".
"Please speak, sir."
"Are you eating too much? Are you bored?"
Hu Si grinned shamelessly: "Not only did I not eat much, I'm actually starving."
He reached out to touch the red bean cake, but Xue Han pushed him away.
"Sir, there's so much! You can't possibly finish it all, these sweet and cloying pastries—"
Xue Han didn't stop him anymore, and looked at Hu Si with a shocked expression as he stuffed the pastry into his mouth.
"This red bean cake is different from the ones I usually eat!"
Xue Han closed the food box: "Go check on someone..."
"Yes." As he was leaving, Hu Si couldn't help but ask, "Sir, do you like that young lady?"
That's really strange. He thought it would take adults two years to get it.
After all, he calls me "sir" but he's only eighteen, several years younger than me.
Xue Han glanced at him and said, "If you don't like it, get back to work."
The door opened and closed again, and the room became quiet.
The boy placed his hand on the food box and repeated to himself: It's not that I like it.
The second wife, Lan, suggested that they meet, and the old lady did not object.
Getting married is a major life event, so it's good to be cautious.
On the contrary, when Yongqingbo learned about it, he felt it was unnecessary.
What's the point of a matchmaking meeting? Just because you don't find the man attractive enough, you give up? That's ridiculous.
The two families secretly agreed on a date for the meeting, and Qiu Heng also received news from Xue Han's investigation.
"The fourth young master of the Marquis of Xiping's mansion has a distant cousin who is a poor family living in the mansion. The Marquis of Xiping's wife discovered that the two had developed feelings for each other and strongly opposed it, but Zhao Si insisted on marrying his cousin, so the Marquis of Xiping's wife was in a hurry to arrange a marriage for her son."
"They chose my second sister?"
"It's probably because the Qiu family's daughter is renowned for her beauty that the Lady of Xiping Marquis wants to find a good-looking daughter-in-law so that her son can settle down."
Qiu Heng's brows furrowed as she listened.
If Qiu Xuan did marry Zhao Si Gongzi, and Qiu Xuan drowned after Qiu Fu's suicide, could it be because Qiu Fu had just entered the Prime Minister's mansion when Fang Xiang's grandson died suddenly, and Yong Qingbo's actions not only failed to bring the two families closer, but also greatly offended the Prime Minister's mansion, thus causing the Xiping Marquis's mansion or Zhao Si himself to have murderous intentions?
Regardless of who Qiu Xuan ultimately marries, it's certain that Zhao Si was not a good match.
The fact that Lady Hou was in such a hurry to get a wife suggests that the relationship between Zhao Si and his cousin is probably not as simple as Xue Han's casual remark about mutual affection.
Xue Han was initially hesitant to go into too much detail, but seeing Qiu Heng frown, he still spoke up: "That young lady from the Xiping Marquis's mansion seems to be pregnant..."
Qiu Heng sneered: "How is this any different from a marriage of convenience?"
"That's unfair."
Xue Han didn't really care about these kinds of things; he had seen far too many filthy things while working in the Imperial City Guard.
But he was curious about what she would do next.
"What are your plans?" Qiu Heng asked, taking a sip of tea after hearing Xue Han's question. "I will tell my second sister."
"What if you don't believe me?"
Qiu Heng looked at him in surprise: "The Imperial City Guard found out, how can you not believe it?"
Xue Han was stunned.
Did he really tell his sisters that it was he who investigated?
Isn't she worried that her sisters will think too much if she gets involved with him?
For a moment, the boy's thoughts were extremely complicated.
"The information you found out, Lord Xue, has been a great help to me. What else would you like to eat, Lord Xue? Fangzhou is skilled at making all kinds of pastries; I'll bring some for you next time we meet."
Xue Han replied without hesitation: "Red bean cake will do."
Qiu Heng chuckled.
This Lord Xue really loves red bean cake.
Upon returning to the Earl's residence, Qiu Heng went to Qiu Xuan's place.
Qiuxuan is looking at the embroidery pattern.
"Sixth Sister, please sit down. We don't have as many delicious pastries as Lengxiangju, but the flower tea we just bought is quite good. Sixth Sister, please try it."
Qiu Heng picked up her teacup and took a sip: "I have something to say to my second sister."
Seeing her solemn expression, Qiu Xuan dismissed the maid and left the two sisters alone.
"What does Sixth Sister want to say?"
"Has Second Sister met Young Master Zhao yet?"
Qiu Xuan nodded slightly, her cheeks flushing slightly.
I only met Young Master Zhao Si during the incense offering. He was handsome and upright, a truly elegant gentleman.
To be fair, she was satisfied with her family background and appearance.
Qiu Heng could tell from Qiu Xuan's reaction that she was satisfied. She sighed inwardly and said something that would spoil the mood: "Second sister, Young Master Zhao is not a good match."
The smile vanished from Qiu Xuan's eyes, replaced by astonishment: "Sixth Sister, what do you mean by that?"
"He has a cousin who is in love with him."
Qiuxuan: ?
His cousin is pregnant.
Qiu Xuan: ?!
“I know where his cousin is settled.”
Qiu Xuan: ! !
(End of this chapter)
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