Chapter 90 She's Going Her Own Way
Xue Han returned shortly after leaving the clinic, putting down a bundle: "Inside are newly bought clothes."
Although the sudden downpour didn't completely soak my clothes, it was still uncomfortable to have them sticking to my body wet.
Qiu Heng changed her clothes and came out: "Lord Xue, won't you change your clothes?"
When Qiu Heng addressed him as Lord Xue, Xue Han was momentarily dazed.
The helpless girl who called him "Xue Han" was gone; she was still the Qiu Liu girl he knew.
"I don't need it, I'll change when I get back." For Xue Han, getting his clothes wet was no big deal.
The two left the clinic and walked down the street.
The rain has stopped, the air is filled with the fresh scent of earth, and the streets are bustling with people again.
A young peddler carrying a load walked past the two men at a leisurely pace.
Xue Han glanced at the peddler indifferently.
Qiu Heng's heart skipped a beat, but she asked calmly, "What is Lord Xue looking at?"
The young peddler who just passed by was Chen San.
In the past, Xue Han would have given a casual reply, but at this moment, his emotions were still stuck in the closeness he felt in the clinic.
"The peddler who just walked past us also passed by us before he went to the clinic."
Investigating and preventing spies is one of the duties of the Imperial City Guard. Xue Han is naturally good at observation and is particularly sensitive to people who repeatedly appear around him.
The young peddler passed by him twice in a short period of time, which made him suspicious.
Hearing Xue Han's words, Qiu Heng sighed inwardly: Chen San had indeed caught Xue Han's attention.
It seems I need to go see Chen San and the others and give them some instructions.
“These street vendors naturally go wherever there are many people.”
“That’s true.” Xue Han silently memorized the peddler’s appearance and didn’t mention it again. “Miss Qiu Liu, let me take you home.”
Qiu Heng instinctively refused: "No need, I already sneaked out, it's more convenient for me to be alone."
"But I'm worried." Xue Han blurted out, meeting the girl's slightly surprised gaze, and calmly masking his embarrassment, "The way you were just now, no one would feel comfortable leaving you alone."
"Anyone?"
Qiu Heng suddenly remembered Xue Han's words about pitying the poor and weak when they first met.
He seems to have gotten used to hiding his concern for others.
"Thank you very much, Lord Xue." Qiu Heng did not insist any further.
The two walked side by side toward the Yongqing Marquis's residence, and fell silent for a moment.
On the other side, Chen San hurriedly arrived at the tea stall carrying his load and pulled Tao Da aside to say, "That kid took Miss Qiu Liu into the clinic, and then came out again!"
Heaven knows how shocked he was to unexpectedly see Qiu Liu walking with a young man on the street.
The young man looked familiar, and when he realized he was from the Imperial City Guard, he couldn't help but hide and keep an eye on her. He discovered that Miss Qiu seemed to be unwell and was taken to the clinic by the young man.
He resisted the urge to chase after Tao Da and went to discuss it with him, but then turned back.
"How is Miss Qiu Liu?"
"Looks like everything's alright."
Tao Da was relieved: "It's good that nothing happened. You should stay away from Miss Qiu Liu, lest you interfere with her affairs."
Chen San couldn't help but feel wronged: "The first encounter was a coincidence. But when you found out that Miss Qiu Liu had been taken away by a young boy, would you feel at ease?"
"Sixth Miss Qiu knows what she's doing." Although Tao Da said this, he became curious about the boy who was close to Qiu Heng.
“Sixth Miss Qiu is very different from Que…” Chen San gulped down a cup of tea and sighed.
Tao Da glanced at him.
Chen San gestured, "Didn't you see? Miss Qiu Liu looks like a delicate and frail little girl."
It made him always suspect that it was just someone who looked the same.
"That's better," Tao laughed.
Qiu Heng parted ways with Xue Han under a banyan tree not far from the Yongqing Marquis's residence and quietly returned to Lengxiang Residence.
Fangzhou noticed that Qiuheng's clothes had been changed: "Did you get caught in the rain, young lady?"
"My clothes got a little wet, so I bought a new set to change into." Qiu Heng handed the bundle to Fang Zhou, which contained her clothes that she had changed out of.
Fangzhou didn't ask any more questions, put away the bundle, and arranged for Qiuheng to take a bath.
Only when Qiu Heng was completely immersed in the steaming wooden tub did she feel a sense of reality.
The water I scooped up slid over my skin, a warm sensation enveloping me, and my mind became clear.
Before being taught by her teacher, she was Aheng. After being taught by her teacher, she remained Aheng.
She didn't know what the outcome would be, but she was a living, breathing person with her own thoughts and judgments.
She no longer intends to save Emperor Jingping; she wants to save the Crown Prince.
The crown prince died in a fire at the autumn hunting palace, so when Emperor Jingping passed away, the young fifth prince had to succeed him. With a young ruler and a volatile situation, Northern Qi decided to launch a full-scale attack.
With the crown prince's untimely death and Emperor Jingping's sudden passing, it's understandable that both the Xia and Qi people felt that the Great Xia was not blessed by Heaven.
This damaged the Xia people's confidence but boosted the Qi people's. This shift in confidence led to the worst possible outcome.
What if the crown prince were still alive?
The crown prince, who had already reached adulthood, had been taught by the heir apparent since childhood and was the natural successor in the eyes of the officials. Compared to the pleasure-seeking Emperor Jingping, the young and self-disciplined crown prince was far superior.
Qiu Heng did not have an easy time making this decision.
If the crown prince is saved and he successfully ascends the throne, it means there will be no more Emperor Longxing.
This is clearly not what the gentleman expected.
The rulers and ministers of Nanxia, including the gentleman, hoped that Emperor Jingping would hold on for a few more years and smoothly hand over imperial power to the grown-up Emperor Longxing.
Qiu Heng scooped up some water and washed her face.
The water had cooled down, making her mind clearer.
Once the decision was made, no matter how complicated and heavy the feelings were, that unbearable nausea disappeared.
Sir, the path Ah Heng will take in the future may not be what you hoped for.
Feel sorry.
The girl, who had been washed clean, put on soft, dry undergarments and lay down on the couch, falling into a deep sleep.
The next day, Qiuheng went out again and met with Tao Da and the other three.
"Sixth Miss Qiu, are you alright?" the four asked in unison.
"The old ailment flared up, but it's nothing serious."
Seeing that she looked quite well, Chen San relaxed and asked, "Are you very familiar with that Imperial Envoy, Miss Qiu?"
“We’re fairly familiar with each other.” Qiu Heng looked at Chen San. “Brother Chen San will soon be quite familiar with that Imperial Envoy as well.”
Chen San was completely bewildered: "What does this mean?"
Qiu Heng sighed: "You passed by him twice yesterday, and he noticed you."
Chen San jumped up: "Is he even human? How could he notice something like that?"
With people coming and going on the street, who would remember someone who just happened to pass by if they weren't prepared in advance?
He even speculated that Miss Qiu might like that boy. Judging from this, he's no good!
Nie Sanniang's face was ugly, and she glared at Chen San: "That Lord Xue is so young, yet he has managed to hold the position of Imperial City Envoy. He is no ordinary person."
Tao Da also scolded, "You little brat, you always love to act on your own. Have you learned your lesson now?"
Chen San felt wronged: "How could you remain indifferent when you saw Miss Qiu Liu being carried away while she was unconscious?"
The three fell silent when asked the question, and Qiu Heng also fell silent.
She had no idea that Chen San was so good at summarizing...
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
