Chapter 115 The One Who Sent the Wooden Doll

Chapter 115: The Person Who Delivered the Wooden Doll

After listening to Qiu Heng's analysis, a cold dread settled in Lin Chengfeng's heart. He murmured, "So this is the kind of life she's been living..."

"Captain Lin."

Lin Chengfeng was jolted from his thoughts and looked at the serious-faced young woman. "Yes, Sixth Miss Qiu?"

"Regardless of what you think, from now on, please be cautious in your words and actions, and don't drag innocent people into this," Qiu Heng said solemnly.

No matter how regrettable or pitiable the feelings between Beauty Qiu and Lin Chengfeng were, they were not a reason to involve the innocent.

Lin Chengfeng's face grew hot. He cupped his hands toward Qiu Heng. "Sixth Miss Qiu's words, I will remember them."

"Captain Lin, please describe what the palace maid who delivered the wooden doll looked like. Were there any distinguishing features?"

"That palace maid was not tall and had an oval face..."

Qiu Heng made a mental note, stowed the wooden doll away, and stood up. "Then I'll be going back."

"Take care, Sixth Miss Qiu."

As soon as Lin Chengfeng returned, he was surrounded by his companions.

"Captain Lin, why didn't you escort Sixth Miss Qiu back?"

"Captain Lin, this won't do. Official Xue and Master Cui still have their eyes on Sixth Miss Qiu!"

"That's right, that's right. Old Lin, you mustn't be careless."

...

Qiu Heng, pondering the matter of the wooden doll as she walked back, felt Fang Zhou gently tug her sleeve. "Miss, Official Xue."

Qiu Heng saw Xue Han standing by the roadside and walked over.

"Fancy meeting you here, Official Xue." After saying this, Qiu Heng couldn't help but think that Cui Er had just said something similar.

"It's not a coincidence. I was hoping to see you."

Qiu Heng pursed her lips and asked, "Did you need something, Official Xue?"

"Did Sixth Miss Qiu go to see Lin Chengfeng?"

"Yes."

"To ask about the wooden doll?"

Qiu Heng fell silent for a moment, then looked up at the young man who stood half a head taller than her. "Yes. And I must also thank Official Xue for having my back yesterday."

Saying this was tantamount to admitting that Qiu Heng had taken on the trouble for Beauty Qiu's sake.

These were words that should have been taken to the grave, and the trust implied in them made a smile tug at the corners of Xue Han's mouth. "It was nothing. Regarding that wooden doll, is there any way I can help?"

Qiu Heng also smiled, her tone unreadable. "Official Xue is so very helpful."

Xue Han had an intuition that something was off about these words, but he couldn't figure out what exactly was wrong.

"The matter of the wooden doll need not trouble Official Xue. I noticed that Eunuch Xue was not very pleased with your actions yesterday. I would feel bad if you got scolded because of me."

Qiu Heng said this in a gentle tone, but Xue Han detected a coolness in it.

That indescribable yet palpable feeling left him feeling uneasy.

It was as if the bonfire, the grass, and the fireflies of that night were just a beautiful dream.

"Official Xue, I have things to do, so I'll take my leave now." Qiu Heng smiled brightly and waved at Xue Han.

Xue Han watched as Qiu Heng walked over to Fang Zhou. She said something to her, and Fang Zhou glanced back at him, pursed her lips, turned her head away, and the two gradually walked away.

Xue Han was certain his feeling was not wrong.

A Heng had become distant toward him, yet her trust seemed to have increased. Why was there such a contradiction?

With no one to ask, Xue Han could only bottle up his doubts.

In the palace, Honored Consort Yu asked a eunuch, "Did Qiu Liu go to see Beauty Qiu again?"

Receiving the eunuch's affirmative answer, Honored Consort Yu sneered. "This Qiu Liu really knows how to use a chicken feather as a token of authority."

With just one sentence from her, she now enters the palace every day, actually helping Beauty Qiu.

Opening her mouth to eat a piece of fruit a palace maid held out for her, Honored Consort Yu gently stroked her nails.

Her meticulously maintained nails were painted with a light layer of pink. If one leaned in close, a faint, delicate fragrance would linger.

"Beauty Qiu is fortunate to have such a sister."

The palace maid feeding Honored Consort Yu the fruit advised, "Your Ladyship, please don't be upset over Beauty Qiu. To His Majesty, Your Ladyship is his true favorite. Beauty Qiu is merely a plaything he occasionally finds novel."

Honored Consort Yu shot a glance at the palace maid. "Do you think this consort is afraid of Beauty Qiu competing for favor? Hah, she's not even worthy."

"Yes..." The palace maid didn't dare say another word, though she felt some confusion in her heart.

If Honored Consort didn't even regard Beauty Qiu as a threat, why would she take action?

But then, considering Honored Consort Yu's usual capricious nature, it didn't seem strange anymore.

"Speaking of which, Qiu Liu is the interesting one. It's a pity that after the scene she made before His Majesty yesterday, it's impossible to have her enter the palace permanently for my entertainment." Honored Consort Yu sighed regretfully.

The palace maid couldn't help but advise again, "This servant has observed coldly that Sixth Miss Qiu is far more capable than Beauty Qiu. It's better that she doesn't enter the palace."

"It's precisely because she's capable that she's interesting. Otherwise, how dull it would be." Honored Consort Yu stood up, placing one hand on the palace maid's arm. "Prepare my bath."

The next day, when Qiu Heng entered the palace again, she discreetly observed every palace maid she encountered but found none matching Lin Chengfeng's description.

After meeting with Beauty Qiu and dismissing the attendants, Qiu Heng went straight to the point. "I went to see Lin Chengfeng. He said the wooden doll was delivered to him by a palace maid in your name. That palace maid was not tall and had an oval face..."

After listening to Qiu Heng, Beauty Qiu almost tore the handkerchief in her hand. "Two people around me sound somewhat similar. One, responsible for running errands, is named Bi Yu. The other, responsible for the trunks and cases, is named Zhu Yan."

After thinking carefully, Beauty Qiu said with certainty, "That evening, I had asked Zhu Yan to open a trunk to fetch something."

That day, having unexpectedly met Lin Chengfeng without any preparation, her heart was in turmoil and difficult to calm. So she had called Zhu Yan to open the trunk and took out a gold hairpin from the bottom to soothe her sorrows.

That gold hairpin was designed by Chengfeng himself and had been her support through countless days and nights when she felt she couldn't endure any longer.

"So, it might be that Bi Yu?"

Lin Chengfeng received the wooden doll that evening. At that time, Zhu Yan was in the palace, naturally eliminating her from suspicion.

"Sister, let me see Bi Yu."

"Very well."

Lady Qiu summoned Zheng Yu. "Have Bi Yu come here."

Shortly after, a pretty palace maid entered and bowed. "My Lady."

"Go to the garden and cut a stem of green chrysanthemum for my sixth sister to take."

This 'green peony' was in fact a green chrysanthemum, a rare variety among its kind, but nothing extraordinary within the imperial traveling palace.

By now, everyone knew Sixth Miss Qiu had resolved Lady Qiu's crisis two days ago. After the turmoil, Lady Qiu doting on her sister would naturally arouse no suspicion.

Bi Yu's duties were errands and odd jobs, so she thought nothing of the order. "Yes."

Once Bi Yu withdrew, Qiu Heng said at once, "I shall go and sound her out."

Lady Qiu was startled. "Sixth Sister—!"

The palace was not like the outside world, and to probe her so swiftly upon first meeting seemed far too hasty.

"Do not worry, Sister. I will be discreet."

After Qiu Heng left, Lady Qiu felt uneasy and could not help asking Zheng Yu, "How do you suppose Sixth Sister will test Bi Yu?"

Zheng Yu shook her head blankly. "This maidservant cannot imagine. Shall I go and see?"

"No, we shall wait for Sixth Sister to return." Lady Qiu did not agree and took a sip of tea.