Chapter 140 Entering the Minister’s Mansion Again

Chapter 140: Entering the Chancellor’s Mansion Again

In Hu Si’s heart, their lord was accomplished young, upright in character—far better than those dandies in the capital by a million miles.

A fine lord like him can't go down the wrong path!

“My lord, if you like Sixth Miss Qiu, you should hang around her once in a while, not have someone stalk her.”

Stalking a girl you like—isn't that what a creep does?

Xue Han held back a frown, his voice cold: “This is an order.”

“My lord?” Hu Si was stunned, unable to comprehend. “That's Red—I mean, Sixth Miss Qiu! If she finds out you're having her followed, then—”

“Then what?” Xue Han asked with a furrowed brow.

“Then you're screwed!” Hu Si said, frustrated.

With so many ways to win a girl's heart, the lord picked the most shameful one. Was he so single for so long he went crazy?

“Hu Si.”

“Your subordinate here.”

“Know your place. Or do you want a new boss?”

Hu Si flinched and didn't dare say more: “I understand.”

“Get out.”

Hu Si snuck a look at the grim-faced young man before retreating, shaking his head.

The lord's definitely gonna regret this!

Xue Han sat quietly for a moment, then picked up the handkerchief from the pile of wet clothes he brought back.

The bloodstained handkerchief was carefully washed, but it could never go back to its pure white. A faint sniff brought the mixed scent of lake water and blood into his nose.

No matter how A Heng would see him when she finds out, if he found out she might be a spy and played dumb because of love, then he wouldn't be Xue Han.

The young man clutched the handkerchief, lay back on the couch, and stared at the ceiling with a soft sigh.

When Qiu Heng returned to Cold Fragrance Lodge, she scared Fang Zhou.

“Miss, you look terrible.”

“Does it?” Qiu Heng raised a hand to touch her cheek, feeling cold on her palm.

“Miss, your hair is wet. I'll get a towel.”

“Help me get a bucket of water; I'll take a bath right away.”

Behind the screen, Qiu Heng sank into the tub and let out a low moan.

The numbness after the intense pain came back with the hot water, sending tiny, needle-like aches through her body. But this pain was bearable, and it weirdly made her feel really alive.

“Miss, are you injured?” Fang Zhou asked, her voice shaking.

“No.”

“You say no!” Fang Zhou put aside the towel and soap, grabbing Qiu Heng's arm. “Miss, look!”

Qiu Heng lowered her gaze and saw spiderweb-like blood marks scattered across her arm.

“Are these wounds? How are there so many?” Fang Zhou hesitantly reached out to touch, then pulled her hand back at the last moment, her voice choked up with tears. “Miss, does it hurt a lot?”

“Not much.” Seeing Fang Zhou about to cry, Qiu Heng smiled. “Really, it doesn't hurt much.”

The worst pain was already over.

Fang Zhou sniffled, her voice turning serious: “Miss, I've never asked what happened in those ten days you were gone. But now I want to know—are your changes and these injuries connected to that disappearance?”

Qiu Heng was quiet for a moment, then nodded: “Yes. But don't worry, these wounds are temporary. They're not life-threatening, just a little uncomfortable.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

That night, Qiu Heng slept soundly, but Fang Zhou tossed and turned like a pancake on a griddle, unable to fall asleep.

She felt her miss was lying to her.

But even thinking that, she could do nothing for her miss—she only knew how to make food.

If something truly happened to her miss, what would she do?

At dawn, Qiu Heng woke.

The morning light was bright, spilling through the open window, sweeping away the gloom of the night.

Qiu Heng rolled up her sleeve; her arm had returned to its fair complexion, as if the crisscrossing blood marks from yesterday had never existed.

“Miss, you're awake.” Fang Zhou entered with dark circles under her eyes.

Qiu Heng raised her arm to show her: “See, I didn't lie to you. It's already healed.”

Fang Zhou grabbed Qiu Heng's arm and examined it closely: “It's really gone.”

But her heart wasn't truly at ease.

Her miss's wounds came mysteriously and vanished quickly—something was off no matter how she thought about it.

Could it be poison?

This sudden guess made Fang Zhou's heart skip a beat.

“I told you not to worry.” Qiu Heng smiled brightly, pinching Fang Zhou's cheek. “Hurry and get ready; we're going to the Chancellor's mansion.”

Seeing Qiu Heng's radiant smile, Fang Zhou swallowed the questions she wanted to ask.

Rather than asking and putting her miss in a difficult spot, it was better to focus on her own duties.

After all, she would always be with her miss, in life or death.

“Mm, I'll get ready now.”

The two tidied up and took a carriage to the Chancellor's mansion.

This time, Nanny Su was waiting directly at the second gate.

"Sixth Miss Qiu, you're early," Nanny Su said, glancing at Fang Zhou. "Your maidservant looks a bit off."

That little wretch looks like bad luck.

"I heard she's here to make pastries for the Madam of your esteemed house; she was so nervous she hardly slept a wink."

"Our Madam is very generous and kind; there's no need for such tension." Nanny Su smirked.

Sixth Miss Qiu talks nicely enough; hard to believe she lets her maid get away with being so rude.

Just looking at Fang Zhou's face made Nanny Su want to get rid of her, but she had to put up with it, since she needed this wretch for the pastries.

"Sixth Miss Qiu, follow me."

Nanny Su led the two to the kitchen outside Madam Yang's courtyard. "The ingredients are ready, according to the list Sixth Miss Qiu sent yesterday, and the helpers are all set. You're Fang Zhou, right? You can start on the savory dumplings."

Fang Zhou glanced at Qiu Heng.

"Go ahead, I'll wait here in the courtyard."

"Sixth Miss Qiu, you're not coming in?"

Qiu Heng smiled. "Do I really need to go into your kitchen?"

Nanny Su pressed her lips together but couldn't force a noble lady from a baron's family to cook. "Then please wait here, Sixth Miss Qiu. I'll go in and take a look."

She had to personally oversee the pastries for the Third Young Master to report back to the Madam.

Once Nanny Su went into the kitchen, Qiu Heng started strolling around the courtyard.

Chancellor Fang's letters and account books probably weren't here, but getting familiar with the mansion couldn't hurt.

"Sixth Miss Qiu?"

Qiu Heng turned and nodded. "Miss Fang."

Fang Rui eyed her suspiciously. "What are you doing in my mother's courtyard?"

"Nanny Su asked me to come."

"Nanny Su asked you?" Fang Rui thought that was funny. "Where is Nanny Su now?"

"In the kitchen."

Fang Rui glanced toward the kitchen and ordered her maid, "Go check. If Nanny Su is inside, ask her to come out."

The maid obeyed and soon returned with Nanny Su.

"Miss."

Fang Rui looked at the bowing Nanny Su, puzzled. "You asked Sixth Miss Qiu to apply medicine for you—how did that lead to her being in Mother's courtyard?"

"Yesterday, Sixth Miss Qiu sent some homemade pastries. Madam enjoyed them, so she invited Sixth Miss Qiu to bring her cook to make more."

"What kind of pastries can't the Chancellor's mansion get?" Fang Rui found it hard to believe.

Her mother wasn't one to be a foodie; calling in someone else's cook just for some pastries?

This was too strange; she needed to ask her mother.