Chapter 54 Meeting Yuan Thief
Qiu Heng bid farewell to Xue Han: "Lord Xue, I should go back now."
Xue Han reached into his robes, pulled out an object, and placed it in Qiu Heng's hand.
"This is--"
“A smoke message. It can be used to send messages in case of danger.” Xue Han frowned slightly, thinking about the stubbornness of the girl in front of him. “I hope Miss Qiu Liu won’t need it.”
"Thank you, Lord Xue." Qiu Heng accepted the gift readily and walked towards the carriage.
Qingluo and the others were waiting by the carriage. When Qiuheng came over, she hurriedly went to greet her: "Miss—"
"Get in the car."
Qiu Heng's calm tone soothed Qing Luo's anxious heart.
As the maidservant helped Qiu Heng into the carriage, she glanced back and saw the young man with dimples skipping and running towards the boy in scarlet clothes.
She turned around and glanced at the calm-looking girl, dismissing a bunch of messy guesses.
The wheels turned, and the carriage moved further and further away.
Excitement gleamed in Hu Si's eyes as he glanced at the boy walking beside him every now and then.
He clung to the willow tree and saw that the adult and the red bean cake were holding hands!
Unable to bear the intense gaze, Xue Han stopped abruptly: "Speak your mind."
Hu Si, who was always talkative, immediately asked, "Sir, when are you going to the Yongqing Marquis's residence to propose marriage?"
Xue Han's temple throbbed, and he strode forward.
"Oh, sir, sir—"
The Yuan residence was bustling with activity.
"Why did Miss Qiu Liu come to visit?" Hui Niang covered her mouth and chuckled. "Haven't you heard, sister, that Miss Qiu Liu is a master incense maker? She was the first to make the currently popular incense pendants. Master knows I love incense, so he contacted Earl Yongqing to help us make the connection..."
Li Niang was furious when she heard Hui Niang's boastful words.
It turns out that it was really the master who stood up for this wretched woman!
"What's there to be so smug about? Miss Qiu is young and beautiful. Whether the master is doing this for you or for something else is hard to say." Li Niang retorted, not to be outdone.
Hui Niang was furious: "What are you saying! Miss Qiu is a noble lady of the Marquis's mansion, do you think she's the same as you!"
Li Niang chuckled: "We have neither a mistress nor any ladies in this house, only the two of us, oh, three concubines. Would any respectable noblewoman ever come to our door?"
"Miss Qiu Liu came to make incense for me. Is that all you can think of? Oh, I see, you're just jealous that Master went to the Yongqing Marquis's residence specifically for me—"
Li Niang was hit where it hurt: "Who knows what kind of bewitching potion you gave the master!"
"What's all the noise about?" Yuan Chenghai, who had been delayed in returning home because he was having tea with Xue Han, heard the noise and stepped inside.
"Master—" the two of them came over together.
"I heard you making a ruckus as soon as I got home."
Li Niang took Yuan Chenghai's arm: "Master, today Miss Qiu Liu came to make incense for Sister Hui Niang and also gave her a scented pendant. Sister Hui Niang said it was arranged by you—"
"Sixth Miss Qiu has left?"
Li Niang raised an eyebrow.
Just as she suspected, the master had developed feelings for Miss Qiu.
That idiot Huiniang, all she thinks about is incense.
“I’ve been gone for a while. I saw Miss Qiu out.” Hui Niang couldn’t help but explain for Qiu Heng. “Miss Qiu is exceptionally skilled in the art of incense. I shamelessly invited her to my home to prepare incense for me, thinking it was a rare opportunity…”
Liniang was furious when she heard this.
The problem isn't scarcity, but inequality. How can you be so biased, sir!
"My lord, I also want Miss Qiu to blend perfumes just for me."
"My sister isn't particularly interested in fragrances."
Li Niang rolled her eyes: "Sister, that's funny. Clothes, jewelry, and perfumes—it's not like a woman can only like one thing. Does a woman prefer something smelly to something fragrant? Master—"
"Alright, enough with the arguing." Yuan Chenghai raised his hand and looked at Hui Niang. "Invite Qiu Liu to come to the house again to make some incense for Liniang... and Si Niang."
Hui Niang was reluctant: "It's not right to trouble Miss Qiu Liu again and again."
Yuan Chenghai dismissed it: "Trouble once is trouble, trouble twice is trouble, it doesn't matter."
At worst, he could slip some benefits to Yongqingbo through his own fingers later. He was willing to owe this favor because it was an honor for that old man.
Hui Niang had no choice but to agree, and received a smug look from Liniang.
The next day, Qiuheng received Huiniang's invitation and visited her again.
"Li Niang also likes the incense made by Miss Qiu Liu. I'd like to trouble Miss Qiu Liu to make the trip."
Qiu Heng smiled: "It's no trouble at all. Making incense is a very interesting thing for me."
Li Niang secretly pursed her lips.
I don't believe she has any ulterior motives. But the sachet this little girl makes is really good, so I figured her incense balls wouldn't be bad either, might as well use them.
Just like with Hui Niang, after asking Liniang about her preferences and needs, Qiu Heng was led by Hui Niang to Nie Si Niang's residence.
On the way, Hui Niang mentioned Nie Si Niang: "She's someone Master brought from the south. She's a bit headstrong. If she neglects Miss Qiu Liu, please don't take it to heart..."
When Nie Si Niang received the report from her maid, her first reaction was to refuse to see the woman, but Nie San Niang persuaded her otherwise.
"Let's meet your sister. It's boring to stay here all day."
Nie Si Niang then said, "Please come in."
Before long, the beaded curtain was lifted, and Qiuheng and Huiniang walked in together.
Nie San Niang calmly observed Qiu Heng.
The magpie brothers instructed that they should accept and facilitate all changes. Is this seemingly still-naive young girl one of those changes?
What can such a young girl do?
As Nie San Niang pondered, Hui Niang spoke up: "This is Si Niang and her sister San Niang. Si Niang, Qiu Liu is a master incense maker. Master specially asked Yongqing Bo for a favor and invited Qiu Liu to make incense for us."
“I don’t need incense,” Nie Si Niang refused.
Nie San Niang tugged at her sister's sleeve: "Fourth Sister, don't let Lord Yuan down."
Nie Si Niang pursed her lips and said calmly, "Then I'll have to trouble Miss Qiu Liu."
Qiu Heng approached Nie Si Niang and said with a smile, "Si Niangzi doesn't need incense, which makes it easier for me to make a judgment..."
Nie Sanniang listened silently as Qiu Heng asked her sister one question after another about incense, becoming more and more confused.
There may be a misunderstanding; this Miss Qiu Liu is an outsider to the Magpie Brothers' plan.
She sounds like a noble lady from a wealthy family, yet she would actually visit the home of a scoundrel to make incense for his concubine. It's truly baffling.
Nie San Niang looked at Qiu Heng with disdain.
The girl seemed to sense something, and suddenly turned to smile at her: "Third Miss, would you like some incense?"
Nie San Niang immediately refused: "No need, I really don't like these things."
She felt disgusted at the mere thought of being associated with that scoundrel Yuan.
"Then I'll take my leave."
After Qiuheng and Huiniang left, only the two sisters remained in the room. Nie Siniang bit her lip hard and said, "Sister, when will this kind of life finally end?"
"It will be alright, it will be alright," Nie San Niang comforted her sister, her own heart filled with uncertainty.
Brother Que, what method will you use to take that scoundrel's life?
Don't keep us waiting too long...
Qiu Heng walked out step by step, and Yuan Chenghai came towards her.
"master."
Yuan Chenghai's gaze passed over Hui Niang, who was bowing, and landed on the face of the girl who had stopped.
(End of this chapter)
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