Chapter 81 Meeting the old king
Granny Yu's heart sank: Oh no, the old lady wants to replace her as the governess!
She would be devastated if she lost such a good job.
"Madam, it's not that I'm spoiling Sixth Miss, but Fangzhou told me that Sixth Miss wasn't feeling well last night and didn't sleep well, so I let Sixth Miss sleep a little longer. If you're not healthy, there's no point in learning any rules, don't you think?"
Is Liu Yatou feeling unwell?
The old lady recalled that her granddaughter's complexion was indeed worse than usual.
"Since that's the case, then so be it. You'll have to take the teaching of the Sixth Miss more seriously from now on."
"Yes, this servant will certainly teach them strictly."
"Go down."
After sending Granny Yu away, the old lady became even more anxious: When a person is not feeling well, the chances of making a mistake are much greater!
Outside the imperial city, Qiu Heng alighted from the carriage and followed Zheng Yu inside.
As Xue Han emerged from the imperial city, he immediately spotted the girl dressed in a dark green jacket.
It is Qiu Liu Guniang.
How did she end up in the palace?
Qiu Heng also saw Xue Han.
The Imperial City Guard was located within the Imperial City, so it wasn't surprising that they encountered Xue Han. However, considering the man's keen sense of smell, Qiu Heng sighed inwardly, lamenting her bad luck.
No matter how they thought about it, the distance between them kept getting closer and closer.
Zheng Yu greeted him with a smile: "Xue Huangcheng."
If he were a eunuch serving the Imperial Concubine, he wouldn't need to greet others with a smile. However, he was only serving a minor beauty, so he couldn't afford to neglect Eunuch Xue's adopted son.
The Imperial City Guard was in charge of the palace's entrances and exits. Xue Han had an impression of most people in the former dynasty and the harem, and recognized Zheng Yu as a person from the Hibiscus Palace.
"Father-in-law, what is this—"
"The beauty Qiu asked for a favor, wishing to see her younger sister who had been found and brought home."
Xue Han's gaze fell on Qiu Heng's face: "I didn't expect to meet Miss Qiu Liu here."
Qiu Heng curtsied: "Lord Xue."
Zheng Yu looked surprised: "Lord Xue knows Miss Qiu?"
Xue Han smiled and said, "When Miss Qiu fell into the hands of spies while trying to save Prince Kang's son, I was the one who rescued her. So of course we know each other."
As he spoke, his gaze remained fixed on Qiu Heng, and his voice was as gentle as a spring breeze.
Whether it was a misperception or not, Zheng Yu felt that she could detect a hint of tenderness in the tone of this imperial envoy, who was known for his unrestrained behavior.
He couldn't help but make a bold guess: Could it be that Xue Huangcheng has feelings for Miss Qiu Liu?
Oh, and there's also the heir of Prince Kang, whom Miss Qiu once saved.
Thinking of these two points, Zheng Yu looked at Qiu Heng again and unconsciously put away his disdain.
Qiu Heng, who had dealt with Xue Han many times, felt even more strongly that something was wrong with him.
Why does Xue Han's voice sound so sticky, and her eyes look so sticky too? Could it be that she went too far last night and ended up like Eunuch Zheng?
Realizing this, Qiu Heng was shocked and suddenly looked at Zheng Yu.
Zheng Yu was stunned.
What's wrong? Two lovers met, and he's in their way? Should he leave?
Xue Han was puzzled by Qiu Heng's reaction: he was worried that she would be neglected by the palace servants on her first visit to the palace, so he deliberately showed some difference. Someone as clever as her should have thought of this.
But it seems that Miss Qiu Liu misunderstood, misunderstood that he... was really interested in her.
Was it really a misunderstanding? The thought suddenly flashed through the boy's mind, making his heart skip a beat.
What was originally a simple desire to help was now in turmoil, and Xue Han couldn't stay any longer: "Then I won't keep you any longer."
He strode past Qiu Heng, pausing only briefly before continuing onward until he had walked quite a distance before stopping and turning back.
He could smell blood on Qiu Liugu again.
Is he injured?
Why is she, a young girl from a sheltered family, always getting hurt?
This is clearly illogical.
As Qiu Heng entered the palace, she couldn't help but look back, her gaze meeting that of the young man in the distance, before quickly turning away.
With its golden tiles and red walls, exotic flowers and rare stones, the further you go in, the more the imperial grandeur becomes apparent.
Qiu Heng was not as calm as she appeared as she walked towards the inner palace.
So this is what the imperial city looked like before it was occupied by the Qi people. It was adorned with flowers and was magnificent.
"The beauty resides in the Hibiscus Palace, and the mistress of the palace is Consort Shu..." Zheng Yu reminded him of some matters.
In the imperial harem, beauties were low-ranking concubines and could only live in side halls by relying on higher-ranking concubines.
Upon hearing Zheng Yu mention "Consort Shu", Qiu Heng's eyes flickered slightly.
If I remember correctly, the future Emperor Longxing's mother was Consort Shu.
Inside the Hibiscus Palace, amidst the withered lotus blossoms and unfurling green leaves, a beautiful woman in palace attire with her hair piled high in the clouds approached, surrounded by palace maids.
"Greetings, Consort Shu." Zheng Yu bowed her head in greeting.
Qiu Heng silently knelt down.
Consort Shu had a beautiful face and a gentle demeanor. Her gaze fell on the young woman beside Zheng Yu: "No need for formalities, this young lady is—"
Zheng Yu hurriedly said, "This is Qiu Meiren's youngest sister, Miss Qiu Liu."
"So you're Consort Qiu's younger sister," Consort Shu smiled. "Just as beautiful as Consort Qiu."
Qiu Heng lowered her eyes: "Your Majesty flatters me. I am ashamed."
"It's a rare occasion for sisters to get together, let's go quickly," Consort Shu said with a smile.
In her memory, although Consort Qiu was outstanding in appearance, she had been low-key and unassuming since entering the palace, which naturally earned her some favor.
Qiu Heng bowed again, when suddenly she heard a boy's voice: "Mother!"
Consort Shu's eyes were filled with joy as she grabbed the boy who had run over: "Why is Wu Lang here?"
The boy looked up and said in a clear voice, "I'm resting today. I miss my mother."
"You silly child—" Consort Shu scolded.
Zheng Yu bowed and said, "This servant greets Your Highness the Fifth Prince."
The Fifth Prince nodded and looked at Qiu Heng: "Is this a newly assigned palace maid?"
Consort Shu smiled and said, "This is Consort Qiu's younger sister, who has come to the palace today to visit her elder sister."
"It came from outside the palace." The Fifth Prince's curiosity was piqued. "When I was studying, I heard that there was a kind of fragrant ornament called 'fragrant pendant' that was popular outside the palace. Have you ever seen it?"
Qiu Heng slowly raised her eyes and looked at the boy who was no more than seven or eight years old.
That innocent face, carefree and of noble birth, suggests that he has probably never experienced any worries in his life.
The etched memories resurface, like a sea of fire.
The magnificent palace burned in flames, and the emperor, his temples streaked with gray, knelt before her, his eyes red with tears, his words stained with anguish: "The Great Xia Dynasty is now beyond saving. Ah Heng, the fate of the Great Xia's land and people is entrusted to you..."
She watched helplessly as countless officials, nobles, palace servants, and guards perished in the flames alongside Emperor Longxing. Even as he was engulfed by the fire, the despairing emperor stared fixedly in her direction.
The scene was like a nightmare, and the entrustment felt like an insurmountable mountain, leaving her breathless.
They met again after leaping across the Magpie Lake. The nearly fifty-year-old deposed king had become a lively and carefree boy, curiously asking her about things outside the palace.
Since returning, there have been reunions and new acquaintances, but none have ever personally witnessed the young Emperor Longxing bring such a profound impact to Qiu Heng.
There is still a possibility.
To turn the tide and save the collapsing edifice—
She may not be able to do it, but she will do her best and risk her life.
"This humble woman has seen you before. That fragrant pendant was made by this humble woman." In their first encounter after reversing the flow of time, Qiu Heng answered in this way, enduring her shoulder injury and heartache.
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