Chapter 144 Xue Han’s Fury

Chapter 144: Xue Han's Fury

The old lady left the house discreetly, but not, as senior maid Chun Cao assumed, to visit Princess Kang. Instead, she went to a teahouse and sent a servant to find Xue Han.

The servant’s heart raced at the thought of dealing with the Imperial City Bureau. Just as he hesitated, someone tapped him on the shoulder.

Startled, the servant spun around to see a young face wearing a lazy smile.

"What are you skulking around for?" Hu Si asked.

He had people watching the Earl of Yongqing’s estate. Today, no red bean cake had left, but the old lady of the estate had gone out, and one of her servants was clearly heading toward the Imperial City Bureau.

Hearing his subordinate’s report, he sensed something off and decided to check in person.

"Are you an official from the Imperial City Bureau?" the servant asked, recognizing Hu Si’s attire, mixing surprise with nervousness.

"That’s right. Do you have business with the Bureau?"

The servant quickly replied, "I’m from the Earl of Yongqing’s estate. The old lady has sent me to invite Lord Xue to the teahouse for a chat."

Recalling the old lady’s instructions, the servant lowered his voice: "It concerns our Sixth Miss..."

He was curious about what matter regarding the Sixth Miss required the old lady to meet the Commissioner of the Imperial City Bureau, and even more curious whether the Commissioner would actually come. He worried the Imperial City Bureau official might roll his eyes at him—

The old lady of the Earl of Yongqing’s estate wants to see the Commissioner over red bean cake?

Hu Si clapped his hands: This is like meeting the family!

The servant stumbled back, startled by Hu Si’s gesture.

"Where is your old lady?"

After learning the location, Hu Si grinned: "Got it. I’ll go tell our lord right away."

Hu Si ran off swiftly and, when he found Xue Han, was panting: "Lord, the grandmother of Sixth Miss Qiu wants to see you!"

Xue Han froze, his expression shifting to one of surprise: "The grandmother of Sixth Miss Qiu?"

"Yes, you heard right. The grandmother of Sixth Miss Qiu, the old lady of the Earl of Yongqing."

Xue Han shot to his feet, then sat back down.

The usually composed young man rarely ever showed such bewilderment in front of others.

Hu Si quickly reassured him: "Don’t be nervous, Lord. It must be good news."

Xue Han shot Hu Si a glance, stood up, and walked out. After a few steps, he paused: "No need to follow. I’ll go alone."

The excitement in Hu Si’s eyes turned to disappointment.

The lord is too much!

In the private room, the old lady sat with her eyes downcast, her face expressionless, but her heart was uneasy.

Coming to see Commissioner Xue Han of the Imperial City Bureau was a last resort.

The young man’s fondness for her sixth granddaughter, Qiu Heng, seemed genuine, but would he really risk offending the Chancellor’s residence for that feeling?

She wasn’t sure, and even thought it unlikely, but she had to try.

If it worked, it would be the girl’s blessing. If not—

The old lady didn’t want to dwell on that possibility.

She never wanted to relive the helplessness of failing to stop her eldest granddaughter from entering the palace.

A sound came from the doorway, and the old lady quickly looked over.

The young man wore a simple blue robe, standing tall and spirited, like a bamboo shoot in spring.

The old lady appraised him as a potential future grandson-in-law. Despite wanting to maintain the family’s dignity, she had to admit she was satisfied.

Good-looking, with real power and a strong backing. She’d heard he saved the Crown Prince and earned great merit, and at such a young age, the Emperor granted him a purple robe and a gold fish pouch. His future was undoubtedly bright.

Why hadn’t such a fine young man come to the Earl of Yongqing’s estate to propose earlier?

"Old Lady." Xue Han clasped his hands in greeting.

"Please, have a seat, Lord Xue."

Xue Han sat down across from the old lady.

"I apologize for the abrupt invitation. I have a matter I’d like to ask you."

"Please, go ahead."

Looking at the straight-backed young man, the old lady took a deep breath and said, "I heard that during the autumn hunt, you publicly declared your feelings for A Heng. Was that impulsive, or do you truly mean it?"

She didn’t want to be so direct, but with the situation urgent, there was no room for pretense.

Xue Han was genuinely stunned, his ears quickly reddening.

On the way to the teahouse, he had considered many reasons why the old lady of the Earl of Yongqing’s estate might want to see him, but he never expected such a blunt question.

After a moment of silence, Xue Han said, "I am sincere, of course."

The old lady smiled, then let out a deep sigh: "Heng’er is still young. I wasn’t in a hurry to arrange her marriage, and though I heard some rumors, I didn’t investigate them. But now, Heng’er is in trouble..."

"What trouble has Sixth Miss Qiu run into?"

The old lady looked embarrassed: "Heng’er has been to Chancellor Fang’s residence a few times recently. Unexpectedly, the Chancellor’s household has taken a liking to her and wants to... take her as a concubine..."

Xue Han listened quietly, but when he heard that the Chancellor’s residence intended to take Qiu Heng as a concubine, his eyes turned icy cold, and anger flashed across his face.

"And what does the Earl’s household think?" the young man asked, each word measured.

The old lady had prepared herself for humiliation, but when it came down to it, the shame was even greater than she had imagined: "To be honest, the Earl has always had the final say in the estate. He doesn’t oppose the Chancellor’s proposal."

That was the way of the world: at home, obey your father; when married, obey your husband; when widowed, obey your son.

She could pressure her son using filial piety, but with her husband, she could only rely on his character.

Many households had a matriarch who seemed powerful and dignified, someone who could even argue with her husband on ordinary days. But when a real disagreement came up, the final decision always rested with the man.

A man might choose to listen to his wife for various reasons, but if he didn’t want to, the old lady ended up in this situation.

Xue Han clenched his fists and asked once more: "And what does Sixth Miss Qiu have to say?"

The old lady gave a bitter smile: "The Earl is the head of the household. Even I can’t talk him out of it. What can Heng’er, just a granddaughter, do? She can only accept her fate."

Accept her fate?

Xue Han felt something was off.

Was A Heng... the kind of person to just accept her fate?

"Did Sixth Miss Qiu accept becoming a concubine?"

"What else could she do? Heng'er is too proud to ask Prince Kang's mansion for help." The old lady gave Xue Han a meaningful look, then picked up her teacup. "I've been out too long; I should head back now."

She'd said her piece. If this young man cared for Sixth Miss, he would act. If not, continuing would only bring humiliation.

"Take care, ma'am."

On his way back to the Imperial City Bureau, Hu Si appeared out of nowhere, winking and asking, "Sir, you met with Old Madam Qiu, didn't you?"

Xue Han was in a foul mood and shot Hu Si a glare. "Got a twitch in your eye?"

"Sir, don't be shy about it. Was Old Madam Qiu trying to betroth Sixth Miss Qiu to you?"

Xue Han slowed his pace.

Old Madam Earl Yongqing wasn't so much trying to betroth her granddaughter to him as she was seeking help out of desperation.

Thinking of Qiu Heng's difficult situation, Xue Han had no mood to discuss this with Hu Si. He said flatly, "Don't make wild guesses and tarnish her reputation. Keep watching the Earl Yongqing mansion and report to me immediately if anything happens."

"Yes."

Hu Si obediently agreed, but inwardly grumbled: Sir, you're talking out of both sides of your mouth. Watching that girl every day—that's what really ruins her reputation.

Xue Han returned to the Imperial City Bureau and sat alone in silence, the image of the girl's calm, composed eyes surfacing in his mind.

Could a woman like A Heng really not escape her family's oppression?

Then he would help her break free.