Chapter 92 I'm Going on the Autumn Hunt
When Qiu Heng arrived at the Kang Prince's Mansion, in addition to Princess Jiayi, the Feng Caiyue sisters also came to greet her.
"Aheng, it's been a long time." Feng Caixing went up to Qiu Heng as soon as she saw her and affectionately took her hand.
Seeing Feng Caixing's radiant expression, Qiu Heng smiled and said, "Second Miss Feng seems to be in a very good mood. Is there some happy news?"
"No, it's just that the weather is cool and I'm in a good mood." Feng Caixing smiled and said, "Aheng, you're Jiayi's sister now, why are you still calling me Second Miss Feng? Just call me Caixing from now on."
Of course she was in a good mood; that wicked Yuan, whom everyone hated, had finally gotten his just desserts.
Although what she did was insignificant, just thinking that she had contributed a little bit made me happy.
Qiu Heng was not one to be coy, and immediately changed her address to "Cai Xing".
Feng Caiyue also said, "Aheng, just call me Sister Caiyue."
Although rumors about Miss Qiu Liu circulated among the noble ladies, she trusted her own judgment.
"Sister Caiyue."
Princess Jiayi took Qiuheng's other hand and asked, "What kind of incense has Ahheng been making lately?"
Feng Caixing said helplessly, "My cousin only cares about the fragrance."
The four of them chatted and laughed as they entered the main courtyard.
"Your Highness, the young ladies have arrived."
"Please come in."
The curtain was lifted, and Princess Kang frowned slightly as she looked at the young girl being flanked by Princess Jiayi and Feng Caixing.
Anyone who didn't know better would think that Qiu Liu was the one with the most important status.
The three girls were too naive; they couldn't compare to the shrewdness of someone who had grown up in the countryside.
"Godmother." Qiu Heng bowed gracefully, her tone full of enthusiasm.
Princess Consort Kang paused.
Isn't this girl being a little too enthusiastic? She's not even trying to hide her fawning intentions?
Thinking this to herself, Princess Kang's displeasure deepened.
"Is there something you need, Ah Heng?"
"It's nothing, I just missed you and the county princess."
Princess Consort Kang was a woman of considerable composure. Hearing such blunt words, she almost lost control of her expression. After a moment, she said, "You are very thoughtful."
"The Princess didn't mind that Ah Heng had caused so much gossip, and she took Ah Heng in as her goddaughter. Ah Heng is very grateful." Qiu Heng didn't seem embarrassed at all about trying to get close to her. She presented the food box she had brought, "I brought some snacks for you to try."
Princess Consort Kang gestured for the maid to take it, and said indifferently, "Go and play with Jiayi and the others. Jiayi specially invited Caiyue and the others over when she heard you were coming."
Seeing that Qiu Heng was only there to build rapport, Princess Consort Kang was naturally impatient to deal with her, and there was no need for her, the mistress of the vast royal mansion, to entertain a little girl.
"Mother, let's go to the garden."
Princess Jiayi pulled Qiuheng away, and Princess Kang shook her head: "That silly girl."
She only had one son and one daughter, and she raised them to be too naive. As a county princess, she actually doted on a girl from a poor family.
Adopted daughter?
Princess Consort Kang sneered.
She didn't willingly adopt this goddaughter, so there was no possibility of any affection between them.
"Your Highness, these pastries—"
Princess Consort Kang glanced at the food box and said impatiently, "Take it away and you can share it."
Tea, snacks, and fruits were already laid out in the garden pavilion, along with another food box that Qiu Heng had given to the maids of the Prince's mansion when she met the three Princesses of Jiayi.
"What snacks did Aheng bring?"
"Fangzhou made red bean cakes and osmanthus cakes." Qiu Heng pointed to Fangzhou, who had come with her.
Fangzhou, who was standing in the corner, curtsied to the three people who were looking over.
"Fangzhou made these by hand? Then I must try them." Princess Jiayi personally opened the food box and took out the pastries.
A plate of osmanthus cake and a plate of red bean cake. Their appearance was not as exquisite as the pastries in the Prince's Mansion, and they were no different from those that could be bought anywhere on the street.
The three county magistrates of Jiayi County did not show the slightest disgust, and each picked up a pastry to taste.
Upon tasting it, his gaze towards Fangzhou was filled with shock.
"Fangzhou's pastries are so delicious!" Feng Caixing praised without reservation, pulling Qiu Heng aside and asking, "What's going on? Aheng, you're good at making incense, good at playing football, and even your maid is a master chef!"
Who exactly came from the countryside?
"I'm glad you like it."
Enjoying snacks and sipping fragrant tea, the aroma of flowers in the garden mingled with the incense in the pavilion, creating an increasingly relaxed atmosphere. Before we knew it, the conversation turned to the topic of autumn hunting.
"Is my cousin going this year?"
The county magistrate of Chiayi hesitated, saying, "I don't really want to go through all that trouble, but my elder brother will be going this year."
"Cousin, go ahead. You haven't been there in two years. It's no fun staying at home all the time. Besides, your cousin is going too."
Princess Jiayi smiled and said, "It's because my elder brother is going that I hesitated. It's been a long time since I went out with him. Have you prepared everything you need for the trip?"
"I'm all ready. My father gave me a fine horse with snow-white fur, it's so beautiful..." Feng Caixing was lively by nature and at the age where she loved to play, she talked endlessly about her trip.
Feng Caiyue noticed Qiu Heng's silence and gently tugged at her sister's arm.
Unlike her reserved sister, Feng Caixing considered Qiu Heng as one of her own, and would ask whatever came to mind, "Aheng, is the Yongqing Marquis's residence participating in this autumn hunt?"
Qiu Heng shook her head regretfully: "No. I was also very interested in the autumn hunt, so I asked my grandfather, who said that the Yongqing Marquis's residence was not on the list of those accompanying the group."
"I was hoping the four of us could go together."
“You can come together,” Princess Jiayi said. “If Aheng wants to go, just tell Mother and she can come with us.”
"Is this convenient?" Qiu Heng asked hesitantly.
Princess Jiayi smiled and said, "What's inconvenient about that? Your mother is your godmother. Come on, let's go and talk to her."
The four returned to the main courtyard.
"It's still early, why aren't you playing anymore?" Princess Consort Kang asked gently.
Princess Jiayi walked over and said with a smile, "Mother, I would like to invite Aheng to go hunting with us in the autumn."
Princess Consort Kang was taken aback and couldn't help but look at Qiu Heng.
Go hunting in the fall? Is this Jia Yi's idea, or this girl's?
"Does Aheng want to go?" Princess Consort Kang asked casually, secretly determined to decline if she was even slightly polite.
"I've heard there will be competitions during the autumn hunt, and people will also roast meat over open fires. I want to go," Qiu Heng said without hesitation, her eyes fixed on Princess Kang.
Princess Consort Kang was utterly speechless.
How can this girl be so shameless, lacking any of the reserve expected of a well-bred young lady?
Since her desire to go was so clear, Princess Kang couldn't refuse any longer. She said calmly, "Since you want to go, let's go together. It'll be good for you to keep Jiayi company."
"Thank you, godmother."
"Thank you, Mother."
Seeing the two speaking in unison, Princess Kang felt a pang of resentment and waved her hand to dismiss the four of them.
Qiu Heng achieved her goal of coming to the Kang Prince's Mansion, and went to see the old lady as soon as she got home.
"Did you say anything offensive to the Princess Consort?" the old lady asked, seeing Qiu Heng's overjoyed expression.
If we go together, I'm worried about running into trouble on the way. If we don't go, I'll be anxious. This girl is really my nemesis.
"No. The Princess Consort said she would take me on an autumn hunt."
"What?" The old lady's somewhat cloudy eyes widened, thinking she had misheard. "The Princess Consort is taking you on an autumn hunt?"
Qiu Heng nodded: "Mm."
The old lady looked at her strangely: "Why would the Princess Consort suddenly decide to take you along?"
The Princess Consort, this adoptive mother, doesn't seem to have any genuine affection for Sixth Girl.
“Since we can’t go, I told the Princess Consort that I want to go.”
The old lady nearly fainted from a short while, but after recovering, she yelled, "You wretched girl, can't you have a little self-control? You've completely disgraced the Marquis's mansion!"
The Earl of Yongqing stepped in, puzzled, and asked, "What? Has the Earl's mansion completely lost face? What did Sixth Girl do?"
The old lady pointed at Qiuheng: "That wretched girl went to the Prince's mansion today and told Princess Kang that she wanted to go hunting in the autumn!"
Yongqingbo's eyes lit up, and he strode over: "And then?"
Qiu Heng smiled sweetly: "And then the Princess Consort agreed."
"You just agreed like that?" Earl Yongqing plopped down, looking somewhat dejected. "You just agreed?"
What about his disappointment and frustration during the autumn hunts all these years?
"What did you say to the Princess Consort?" Ignoring the old lady's darkening face, the Earl of Yongqing pressed on.
"I said I'd heard the autumn hunt was very interesting and I wanted to go. The Princess Consort said that since I wanted to go, we could go together."
"Otherwise, what will the Princess Consort say? That it won't work and she won't take you?" The old lady was really angry.
"But you've already agreed, are you going to back out?" Qiu Heng asked, troubled.
"The point isn't whether you go or not, it's that you should act like a well-bred lady—"
The Earl of Yongqing interrupted the old lady's outburst, his eyes fixed only on his glittering granddaughter: "Go, of course we'll go!"
It's a good omen that Liu Yatou can go this year; maybe he can go next year too.
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