Chapter 37 Relieving Worries
The fifteen-year-old girl still had a childlike face, but her eyes were firm and bright, making people subconsciously forget her age.
"Heng'er," Madam Lan's first reaction was disbelief, but her love for her daughter made her unwilling to give up any possibility, "You said you could relieve your second sister's worries, what... what method is it?"
She stared intently at the excessively young girl, feeling both ridiculous and pathetic.
"Why don't you do the opposite, Second Aunt?"
What do you mean by that?
"If Grandfather is unwilling to give up this marriage, then let the Marquis of Xiping's family give it up on their own initiative."
Lady Lan was stunned: "Start with the Marquis of Xiping's residence?"
Qiu Heng nodded: "Yes, start with the Marquis of Xiping's residence. Second Aunt has information about the shameful secret that the Marquis of Xiping's wife most wants to cover up. If we arrange to meet her and give her a hint, the Marquis of Xiping's wife will probably not be so fixated on Second Sister."
Lan's eyes lit up.
That's right, she was in such a hurry that her mind went blank.
Qiu Xuan was somewhat uneasy: "If the Lady of Xiping Marquis finds out that we know about his family's scandals, will she hold a grudge?"
Qiu Heng looked at Qiu Xuan and said calmly, "Even if she holds a grudge, so what? Compared to Second Sister's marriage, which is more important?"
“That’s right. If we can’t have it both ways, then we’ll choose the lesser of two evils.” Lady Lan made up her mind.
For her daughter's sake, she was even willing to be divorced in front of her in-laws. Was she afraid that the Lady of Xiping would hold a grudge?
No matter what, the Yongqing Earl's family was a noble family, and the Xiping Marquis's family was of a higher social standing, so they couldn't just directly call for war and killing.
Qiu Xuan covered her face in self-reproach: "I've caused trouble for my parents."
"Xuan'er, don't think too much. It's just bad luck that she was chosen by the Lady of Xiping Marquis." Madam Lan comforted her daughter, putting her arm around her.
Qiu Heng gently shook her head: "Second sister, it's both tiring and unnecessary for you to take on responsibilities that aren't yours. First, the Lady of Xiping Marquis is unkind, and second, Grandfather only cares about profit; it's all their fault."
Qiu Xuan was stunned.
How can you so confidently say that it's all someone else's fault?
Lady Lan, who had been so distressed, was amused by these words and her lips curved into a smile.
She gazed intently at the little girl before her, feeling both amazed and deeply moved.
It should be said that these words had a greater impact on her, even threatening to turn from a slight ripple into a raging storm.
As a daughter at home, I was taught to be quiet and gentle; as a wife, to be tender; as a daughter-in-law, to be obedient; and as a mother, to be loving. When have I ever had the audacity to say that it's all someone else's fault?
Qiu Heng's words touched Lady Lan, making her more decisive. That very day, she quietly went out and arranged to meet with the Lady of Xiping Marquis.
What the two discussed is unknown, but the nanny who delivered the letter to the Marquis of Xiping's residence the next day returned with a bitter face.
"Madam, the wife of the Marquis of Xiping said that things haven't been going well since the two families started discussing marriage. It might be because the two children's horoscopes don't match, so the marriage should be called off."
The old lady was so angry she nearly fainted.
The family that came to propose marriage is the Marquis of Xiping's family, and yet they are also unwilling. Is there something wrong with this family?
The only redeeming thing is that she never really cared about this marriage in the first place.
The old lady was furious and had someone summon Yongqing Bo to tell him that the marriage was off.
“Raising such a son and then deceiving people into marriage, he is definitely not someone to be trifled with. Lord, you still treat him like a treasure.”
The Earl of Yongqing was humiliated and left with a dark expression. After going to the outer courtyard, his headache, which had not flared up for a long time, returned.
"Quickly put on the calming incense."
The head maid, Jiangxiang, silently added incense balls to the incense burner, knowing better than to utter a sound.
The old lady told the second wife, Lan, the news that the marriage had fallen through in a pleasant mood.
Of course, to save face for the Earl of Yongqing, the old lady's smile wasn't too wide.
"Your daughter-in-law understands, thank you, Madam." Even though she already knew the outcome, Madam Lan's eyes still reddened when she spoke.
The old lady gave her a disapproving look: "You're a mother now. You should tell Er Yatou sooner rather than later, so she doesn't overthink things."
"Yes, daughter-in-law will go right away."
Lan left in a hurry, leaving the old lady lost in thought.
Back then, the eldest daughter... didn't have such good luck.
When Qiu Xuan received the news from Lan Shi, she finally felt relieved and burst into tears in her mother's arms.
Madam Lan gently patted her daughter's back until she had cried out her shock and grievances, then reminded her, "Go and thank your sixth sister properly, and thank her on your behalf as well."
"Um."
Qiu Xuan went to Lengxiang Residence, bringing with her the gifts she had prepared herself and the gifts Lan Shi had given as a token of her gratitude.
"These are a few handkerchiefs I embroidered in my spare time. Sixth Sister, please use them as you like. Mother asked me to bring them to you..."
"Second Aunt and Second Sister are too kind. I was just saying it casually."
A double-embroidered handkerchief would be a waste to use casually. As for the pair of gold bracelets given by Madam Lan, they were not a small gift either.
Qiu Heng doesn't care about these things, but who wouldn't be happy to receive a token of appreciation?
"Sixth Sister, you didn't just say that casually. Not to mention the tip that made the Marquis of Xiping's mansion give up, you also owe your knowledge of Zhao Si's private affairs to Lord Xue of the Imperial City Guard who investigated..."
Having gotten rid of the trouble, Qiu Xuan finally had the mind to consider other things: "Sixth Sister, are you very familiar with Lord Xue? It must not be easy to ask him for help, right?"
"The Princess of Jiayi invited me to watch the dragon boat races during the Dragon Boat Festival. A spoiled brat caused me trouble and was caught by Lord Xue, who gave him a good scolding. That day, on my way back from offering incense at Dafu Temple, I encountered a strict inspection and also ran into Lord Xue. Seeing that Lord Xue was a kind-hearted person, I asked him to help investigate. Second Sister, don't feel burdened. Hmm... consider it a side job for him."
"Taking on freelance work?" Qiu Xuan was stunned.
Is that what she meant?
"Sixth Sister, you're paying Lord Xue to do this? How much will that cost?"
Lord Xue seems to be the head of the Imperial City Guard, right?
Suddenly, Qiu Xuan started calculating whether the pocket money she had saved up over the past ten years would be enough to pay off her debts.
If all else fails, ask your mother to cover it; you can't let your sixth sister pay for it.
"It wasn't much." Seeing Qiu Xuan's terrified expression, Qiu Heng told the truth, "It only cost one tael of silver."
Qiu Xuan: "..."
She remained silent for a long while, looking at the still-childish girl.
Perhaps Lord Xue wasn't taking on a private job, but rather had taken a liking to Sixth Sister... Otherwise, she simply couldn't understand how one tael of silver could be used to hire a dignified imperial envoy.
Judging from Sixth Sister's appearance, she doesn't seem to have figured it out yet.
Qiu Xuan was caught in a dilemma.
If I offer a suggestion, might it backfire and make Sixth Sister have designs on me instead?
It's not that Lord Xue is a bad person, but in this world, when two people are in love but haven't received the approval of their elders, things rarely end well.
If we don't remind her, what if Sixth Sister suffers a loss?
"It's just one or two taels of silver, Second Sister, don't worry about it."
Once again shocked by the "one tael of silver," Qiu Xuan suddenly stopped worrying.
A mere tael of silver is enough to get that Lord Xue to do his bidding; it's not Sixth Sister who should be at a disadvantage.
Sixth Sister is the kind of person who can frankly say it's all someone else's fault.
Qiu Xuan barely slept last night, repeatedly recalling the events of the day. Never before had a single sentence struck her so deeply, even shaking the beliefs she had formed since childhood.
"Second Sister."
"Um?"
Things will get better.
In any case, it shouldn't be worse than the ending that was only briefly mentioned on the old paper.
Just a quick update: I'll be posting one chapter around lunchtime from now on, with between 2,000 and 3,000 words. I completely understand everyone's desire for more, but posting 4,000 words a day is really putting a lot of pressure on me right now. Rather than forcing myself to write under that pressure, only to break down one day and be unable to continue, I'd rather maintain my passion and keep writing steadily for another ten or eight years (a bold statement). The list of acknowledgments will be posted tomorrow.
(End of this chapter)
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