Chapter 117 Meeting the Crown Prince

Chapter 117: An Encounter with the Crown Prince

"Ahem—"

Hearing the reminder, Qiu Heng looked up and saw the Crown Prince, his hair secured by a jade crown.

"This subject greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

The Crown Prince's gaze held curiosity as he examined Qiu Heng. "Are you Sixth Miss Qiu?"

"I am indeed."

"No need for formalities. I deeply admire Sixth Miss Qiu for bravely luring the bear alone to save Rong Ning."

"Your Highness flatters me."

The Crown Prince seemed about to say more when a eunuch beside him whispered a reminder, "Your Highness—"

The Crown Prince had no choice but to adopt a serious expression and said calmly, "Sixth Miss Qiu, you may go."

"Your humble subject takes her leave."

As the Crown Prince stepped inside, the eunuch walking beside him whispered, "Your Highness, that Sixth Miss Qiu is causing too much of a stir, even drawing the rivalry of three men—"

The Crown Prince frowned. "I find Sixth Miss Qiu's eyes clear and sincere, and her actions admirable. Do not spread idle gossip."

The eunuch wanted to say more, but seeing the Crown Prince's slightly darkened expression, he wisely refrained. "Yes."

Qiu Heng returned to her quarters and called for Fang Zhou. "Make some red bean cakes."

Fang Zhou chuckled. "We haven't made any since arriving here. I thought you might be wanting some, so I soaked the red beans yesterday."

Qiu Heng didn't hide it from Fang Zhou. "Make a bit more. I'll send some to Official Xue."

The smile on Fang Zhou's lips faltered. "You're still sending red bean cakes to Official Xue? His adoptive father is so mean and disrespectful, just thinking about it makes me angry."

"When asking for someone's help, it's not good to go empty-handed."

Hearing it was to seek Xue Han's help, Fang Zhou nodded and went into the kitchen.

Qiu Heng carried the warm red bean cakes to find Xue Han, but halfway there, she encountered several noble ladies led by Fang Rui.

"Sixth Miss Qiu, who are you planning to send food to this time?" Cheng Susu glanced at the food box in Qiu Heng's hand and asked mockingly.

Qiu Heng smiled. "Miss Cheng is so concerned about who I'm sending food to. Is it because you can't have any and it bothers you?"

"Nonsense. There's nothing I haven't eaten. Why would I want your crude food?" Cheng Susu raised an eyebrow and sneered. "I'm just curious, which man is Sixth Miss Qiu planning to win over with these shabby treats this time? Captain Lin, Master Cui, or Official Xue?"

At these words, the other noble ladies covered their mouths and tittered.

"Sixth Miss Qiu doesn't need to please anyone." A voice suddenly rang out.

The young women turned to see Xue Han approaching, dressed in black hunting attire.

"Official Xue." The ladies managed awkward curtsies.

Xue Han held an official position and had powerful backing. Though unwilling, Cheng Susu had no choice but to offer a perfunctory curtsey. "Official Xue."

Xue Han looked at her with a cool expression and finished his statement. "Just so Miss Cheng knows, Sixth Miss Qiu does not need to win Xue's favor. It is Xue who is striving to win Sixth Miss Qiu's heart."

Cheng Susu's face darkened from the retort. She snorted coldly. "What reason does Official Xue have to speak so to a young lady?"

Xue Han gave her a steady look and said calmly, "In fact, Xue dislikes speaking with unfamiliar young ladies. However, Miss Cheng was spouting nonsense about Sixth Miss Qiu, getting in the way of Xue's pursuit of a beauty."

"You people are really—" Cheng Susu pointed a finger at Xue Han.

Xue Han's eyes turned cold. "What about it?"

"Susu." Fang Rui called out.

Cheng Susu returned to Fang Rui's side with a dark expression.

Xue Han smiled at Qiu Heng. "Sixth Miss Qiu, shall we go?"

"Alright."

Glaring at the departing backs of the two walking side by side, Cheng Susu was furious. "How utterly shameless!"

"Enough, Susu." Fang Rui watched Qiu Heng's receding figure, her voice also cold. "Xue Han has always acted as he pleases. There's no need to provoke him and bring embarrassment upon yourself."

"I know that. I'm just indignant about Qiu Liu. How can a country bumpkin outshine us so completely, making the rest of us seem mediocre?"

These words made the other noble ladies' expressions turn somewhat unpleasant.

The noble ladies who ran in the same circles as Fang Rui and Cheng Susu were all proud and arrogant. They naturally looked down upon those from much lesser families, and being overshadowed by one inevitably bred resentment.

"Alright, you said it yourself—she's just a country bumpkin. So what if she attracts men's rivalry? Take Xue Han, for instance. When it truly comes to marriage discussions, his adoptive father will be the first major obstacle."

Fang Rui brushed off nonexistent dust from her dress and stepped forward. "It's only in this vast, open place that she has a chance to strut her stuff. Once we return to the capital and she's confined to a residence, she'll still be just a drab little sparrow."

Cheng Susu felt somewhat better. "Rui'er is right. I'm just still angry that she used a trick to beat me that day."

"No hurry. There will always be opportunities to get back at her. We have all the time in the world."

Qiu Heng and Xue Han stopped when they reached an open area.

"My words earlier were forward. I hope Sixth Miss Qiu will forgive me." Without Cheng Susu and the others around, Xue Han's composure vanished. Thinking of the words he had spoken aloud made his ears burn.

"Official Xue was standing up for me. It is I who should thank Official Xue." Qiu Heng curtsied and handed over the food box. "I brought red bean cakes for Official Xue."

Xue Han couldn't help but smile. "Were you coming to find me, Sixth Miss Qiu?"

Qiu Heng admitted openly. "Yes. I didn't expect to meet you halfway."

Xue Han took the food box. "Did you need something from me, Sixth Miss Qiu?"

Or did you just come to deliver snacks—

"I'd like to ask for Official Xue's help with something." Qiu Heng had thick skin and didn't blush despite having just said yesterday that she needn't trouble him.

She had been wrong to think that way. When in need, she should seek Xue Han's help more often, seek help from anyone who could assist. If she failed in her endeavors, most of the people she often saw would likely die.

"Please go ahead, Sixth Miss Qiu."

"How much does Official Xue know about Honored Consort Yu?" Qiu Heng lowered her voice to ask.

"Honored Consort Yu—" Xue Han slowly shook his head. "I don't know much about the imperial harem consorts."

That wasn't an area the Imperial City Bureau should involve itself in.

Since Qiu Heng asked, he tried to say a bit more: "Honored Consort Yu comes from a commoner background. His Majesty met her during an outing. Upon entering the palace, she was instantly granted immense favor and has enjoyed unwavering, exceptional grace for years."

"Why does His Majesty favor Honored Consort Yu so much?"

Xue Han was stumped by this question. After pondering for a long time, he hesitantly said, "Well, Honored Consort Yu is... exceptionally beautiful."

"Is beauty alone enough?" Qiu Heng mused.

"Well, naturally not everyone values beauty alone. Perhaps His Majesty is one who does—" Xue Han couldn't quite finish his sentence.

Qiu Heng gave him an amused glance.

Xue Han really dared to say anything.

"Official Xue, do you know if there's any bad blood between Honored Consort Yu and the Lin family?"

"The Lin family?" Xue Han was taken aback, his expression turning serious. "Sixth Miss Qiu suspects that Honored Consort Yu has a grudge against the Lin family, which is why she used the wooden doll to frame Beauty Qiu and Lin Chengfeng?"

"It's just a guess, which is why I came to ask Official Xue," Qiu Heng replied frankly.

Xue Han's gaze at Qiu Heng deepened.

Honored Consort Yu reigns supreme in the inner palace, while Beauty Qiu has only recently gained favor. Even someone like him would assume it was just concubines vying for favor. Sixth Miss Qiu's unconventional theory was something ordinary people would hardly consider.

"I'll look into it."

"Thank you, Official Xue. I'll wait for your news."

"If Cheng Susu and the others trouble Sixth Miss Qiu again—"

Qiu Heng waved it off dismissively: "Official Xue need not trouble yourself over this."

A faint smile touched Xue Han's lips. "Alright, I understand."