Chapter 134 The Thief is a Woman

Chapter 134: The Thief is a Woman

Qiu Heng looked hesitant: "You want Miss Cheng to apologize to me?"

"Yes, don't be impulsive."

Cheng Susu couldn't believe her ears: "Rui'er!"

Fang Rui shot Cheng Susu a meaningful look: "Su Su, Sixth Miss Qiu is still a sheltered young lady. What you said was a bit too much. Just apologize to her."

Cheng Susu bit her lip and said nothing.

Qiu Heng's hand, holding the hairpin, twitched, making Fang Rui's heart race with fear, and she couldn't help but nudge Cheng Susu.

Cheng Susu gritted her teeth and gave a slight curtsy to Qiu Heng: "Sixth Miss Qiu, I'm sorry. I spoke without thinking. I hope you won't hold it against me."

Qiu Heng knew when to quit and tucked the hairpin back into her hair.

Fang Rui breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

"Miss Fang, Nanny Su has a wound on her face and can't perform her duties. Besides applying medicine for her, is there anything else I need to do? Like covering for her duties or something?"

"No need." Fang Rui refused immediately.

"Since there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

"Escort Sixth Miss Qiu out." Fang Rui ordered the maids.

One maid thought it unsafe, so she arranged for two.

Once Qiu Heng was far enough away, Cheng Susu let out her pent-up grievances: "Rui'er, how did you let Qiu Liu push you around? Let her die! I don't believe she'd actually do it!"

Fang Rui's expression darkened slightly: "What if she actually died?"

"No way, she's just bluffing."

"I'm talking about the 'what if.' This is my home. Even if it's just a one-in-a-million chance, I can't afford the shame. Besides, her maid is so crazy, who's to say she isn't even crazier than her maid?"

"I told you, like servant, like master!" Cheng Susu's face darkened. She didn't say it, but inside she felt a bit resentful toward Fang Rui. For the sake of a mere 'what if,' disregarding her dignity—how pointless.

Several noble ladies had arrived early at the prime minister's mansion, first waiting, then searching for someone, and were now exhausted both physically and mentally. They took their leave one after another.

Fang Rui sent someone to call for Nanny Su.

"You called for me, miss." Nanny Su curtsied.

"Tomorrow, Sixth Miss Qiu will come to apply medicine for you. Be polite to her."

Nanny Su was taken aback.

She had previously understood the miss's intention was to take the chance to make things difficult for that girl. Had she misread it?

"Miss, what do you mean by 'polite'?"

"Exactly what it sounds like." Fang Rui frowned, reluctant but forced to say, "This Qiu Liu is erratic. Elsewhere, it's fine, but in our mansion, we need to be careful."

"Understood."

Qiu Heng returned to Cold Fragrance Lodge, went to the west room study, and took out paper and brush to sketch carefully.

Fang Zhou, grinding ink beside her, looked on curiously: "Miss, what are you drawing?"

Since they had cleared the air, Qiu Heng had no need to hide from Fang Zhou: "It's part of the Fang mansion's layout."

She wasn't drawing conventional scenery; some lines were smudged and unrecognizable, so it was no wonder Fang Zhou couldn't tell.

Qiu Heng studied the paper for a long time, then said to Fang Zhou: "I'm going out tonight."

"To the Fang mansion?" Based on the earlier conversation, Fang Zhou naturally guessed.

"Yes, I'll scout the way first."

Fang Zhou looked worried: "Miss—"

"Don't worry, I have experience."

Fang Zhou thought of how many times Qiu Heng had gone out at night and relaxed a little: "I'll wait for you to return."

Late at night, Qiu Heng took a familiar route out of the marquis's mansion, heading straight for the Fang mansion.

The bright moon hung in the sky, casting a hazy light over the mansion like a sleeping beast, its high walls imposing.

Qiu Heng stopped at a spot outside the wall.

This was the best place she had chosen for sneaking in after walking through the mansion during the day.

Taking a deep breath, Qiu Heng leaped and grabbed the wall's top, but as she changed her expression, a bell rang.

The crisp chime shattered the night's silence, sounding especially jarring.

"Thief!"

With a low shout, several black figures rushed from various walls and rooftops toward her.

Qiu Heng jumped back outside the wall without hesitation and sprinted away.

Her light-footed skill was good, and she quickly shook off the pursuing mansion guards, but then she saw two familiar figures ahead.

Xue Han and Hu Si!

Qiu Heng's face went numb as she leaped onto a rooftop and ran forward.

Though it was just a brief glance, Xue Han felt a strange familiarity.

It was that thief he had fought twice!

Xue Han also leaped onto the civilian rooftops, chasing the figure ahead.

Hu Si jumped in place a few times, then gave up.

Forget it, by the time I climb up, it'll be dawn. I'll leave it to the captain.

The tiles underfoot made a faint sound, and a whoosh came from behind. Qiu Heng quickly dodged to the side.

She knew well how fast and accurate Xue Han's thrown weapons were.

The flying knife grazed her body, and Qiu Heng cursed inwardly as her foot landed on a spot missing a tile, causing her to slip.

Steadying herself, she found Xue Han had already caught up.

"It's you." The young man's voice rang out with certainty, as cold as frost under the high, bright moon.

Qiu Heng said nothing, lashing out with her palm.

Did Xue Han ever sleep? Working all day, still prowling the streets at night?

Being the Imperial City Commissioner is way too exhausting.

Qiu Heng's heart was full of helplessness, her palm strikes growing fiercer.

Xue Han closed in, on guard against the little thief slipping away again.

The two traded blows on the rooftop. Qiu Heng spotted Hu Si getting closer below, knowing the longer this dragged, the worse it'd get. She had no choice but to pull her old trick again.

Xue Han gave a silent, cold laugh, catching the ankle aimed at his groin.

He had fought countless opponents, and this little thief had no scruples at all—but after getting caught once, he was ready.

Feeling his grip on her ankle, Qiu Heng twisted her body and moved in decisively, trying to hug Xue Han's waist.

Xue Han, wary she might have a weapon hidden, dodged quickly.

All this took longer to tell than it actually happened. Neither was willing to let the other get the upper hand, so they both crashed onto the rooftop. Instinctively, they controlled their fall to avoid making noise, but Xue Han froze for a moment.

Seizing this brief chance, Qiu Heng slipped out of Xue Han's grip like a fish, darting away swiftly.

Knowing he couldn't catch her now, Xue Han stared darkly at the figure disappearing into the distance.

That little thief was a woman.

Leaping back down to the street, Xue Han's mind was still on the thief he'd failed to catch.

"Sir, you didn't catch them?" Hu Si walked up beside Xue Han, incredulous.

Were thieves these days so skilled that even their master couldn't take them down?

Xue Han pressed his thin lips together, his tone unreadable: "It was that same thief."

"Him again? No wonder." Hu Si nodded in realization, glad he hadn't wasted effort climbing the roof.

"It's a female thief," Xue Han murmured.

A woman with such skill and such a lack of scruples was rare.

Hu Si was stunned: "Sir, what did you say? A female thief?"

Xue Han ignored Hu Si and walked on silently.

Hu Si followed, deeply puzzled: "Sir, how did you know that thief was a woman?"

"Instinct."

Hu Si was even more confused: "That thief was all in black, didn't even show their face—how did you sense that?"

Xue Han shot Hu Si a blank look, changing the subject: "Strengthen night patrols starting tomorrow."