Chapter 145 The Deal Falls Through

Chapter 145: The Deal's Off

Xue Han thought it over for a bit, then went to see Xue Quan.

"What's up, Han'er?" Xue Quan asked with a smile when he saw Xue Han.

Ever since Xue Han saved the Crown Prince, Xue Quan's attitude had improved significantly.

Xue Quan knew his current glory came from the Jingping Emperor, and one day the Emperor would grow old. When the throne changed hands, he, as a favored eunuch of the previous emperor, would struggle to keep his status.

It was a stroke of luck his adopted son saved the Crown Prince—a huge opportunity. If his son could win favor with the new ruler, he, as the adoptive father, wouldn't do too badly.

Before, Xue Han was like a rootless weed, totally dependent on Xue Quan's goodwill, but now he was likely a guarantee of a stable old age. Hence, the change in attitude.

This change in attitude also made Xue Han come to him now.

"Today, I got a plea for help from Sixth Miss Qiu," Xue Han said, tweaking the truth a bit.

Xue Quan raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What kind of help?"

"Chancellor Fang wants to take Sixth Miss Qiu as a concubine for his grandson, Third Master Fang."

Xue Quan looked surprised. "How did Sixth Miss Qiu get involved with the Chancellor's mansion?"

Prince Kang's Mansion, Prince Fu's Mansion, the Cui family, and now the Chancellor's mansion—oh, and his adopted son too. This girl's something else.

"They met at Lingwei Temple..." Xue Han briefly explained the situation. "Unexpectedly, it caused all this trouble. Sixth Miss Qiu had no choice but to ask me for help."

Xue Quan shot Xue Han a sharp look, his tone hard to read. "And how do you plan to help her?"

"I can only come to you, Father."

"Come to me?"

The moment Xue Quan heard Xue Han mention Qiu Heng, he figured it was about asking him to propose to the Earl Yongqing's Mansion. He was already annoyed, but Xue Han's words calmed him down a bit.

Still, the kid's attitude was okay.

"What can I do about it?"

"I'd like you to talk to Chancellor Fang and tell him Sixth Miss Qiu is a girl I've got my eye on."

"And then? Propose to the Earl Yongqing's Mansion?" Xue Quan asked with a half-smile.

Xue Han knew his adoptive father wouldn't do that, and acting eager would just piss him off more. So he kept his cool. "Sixth Miss Qiu has publicly said she likes Lin Chengfeng. I'm still waiting for her to change her mind."

So everything stays the same.

Xue Quan wasn't convinced. "What if Sixth Miss Qiu says she's changed her mind?"

Others might not know, but he knew damn well the girl didn't really like Lin Chengfeng. If she used this chance to latch onto his adopted son, it'd be like eating bitter gourd and not being able to complain.

Xue Han gave a light chuckle. "Sixth Miss Qiu won't. She knows her place."

Knowing A Heng and the little thief were the same person—the deliberate hit to his wound, the ruthless kick to his groin—how could he be so arrogant to think A Heng liked him?

It was him who had feelings for A Heng, and that's what got him into this mess.

Xue Quan studied Xue Han's face carefully and was taken aback.

Did Han'er really think the girl wasn't interested in him?

"Besides—" Xue Han hesitated.

"Besides what?"

Meeting Xue Quan's stern gaze, Xue Han said calmly, "Chancellor Fang was at the autumn hunt too. Knowing I've taken a liking to Sixth Miss Qiu, yet still wanting her as a concubine for his grandson—it seems he doesn't respect you much, Father."

Xue Quan scoffed. "Are you trying to stir up trouble between me and Chancellor Fang?"

Everyone in court knew he was at odds with Han Wu, but he got along okay with Chancellor Fang.

"I'm just saying how I felt when I heard this."

Xue Quan went quiet.

Whether it was provocation or truth, Han'er had a point: once word got out that the Chancellor's mansion was taking Sixth Miss Qiu as a concubine, some would inevitably think Chancellor Fang didn't take him seriously.

After all, the whole court knew Han'er had feelings for that girl. Didn't Xue Quan have any face to save?

Xue Quan stayed quiet, and Xue Han waited.

After a long while, Xue Quan said flatly, "I can help with this, but you have to remember what you said—that you only feel guilty toward Sixth Miss Qiu, no romantic feelings."

"I remember. Thanks, Father."

Having decided to step in, and to avoid any delays, Xue Quan set up a meeting with Chancellor Fang that very day.

"It's been a while since I've had tea with you, Eunuch Xue," Chancellor Fang said with a smile, refilling Xue Quan's cup himself.

"Indeed." Xue Quan took a sip, then sighed deeply.

"Trouble, Eunuch Xue?"

"At our level, the troubles are always about our kids and grandkids."

Chancellor Fang's mouth twitched. He got along with Xue Quan, but hearing a eunuch worry about descendants felt weird.

"Your son is young and accomplished, just praised by the Emperor. What troubles could you have, Eunuch Xue?"

"Alas." Xue Quan set down his cup and sighed again. "It's that Sixth Miss Qiu again. She's too much trouble. She went to my son and said she didn't want to be a concubine, and that dumb kid came to me kicking up a fuss... Kids are nothing but debts!"

Chancellor Fang's heart skipped a beat.

He had thought Xue Quan didn't care about the childish antics at the autumn hunt, but apparently, he had taken it to heart. He had also assumed Xue Quan looked down on the Earl Yongqing's Mansion.

Xue Quan smiled, looking at Chancellor Fang. "I hope you can do me this favor."

"Hehehe." Chancellor Fang laughed as well. "Eunuch Xue, you're being too formal. Since your son truly likes that young lady, the Chancellor's mansion will find another suitable match."

"Thank you, Chancellor Fang."

The two exchanged smiles.

Upon returning home, Chancellor Fang said to his wife, "Forget about taking Sixth Miss Qiu as Third Brother's concubine."

"Why is that?"

"Eunuch Xue's adopted son is very invested in that girl. There's no need to harm our relationship over a little girl."

The old lady was reluctant: "But Third Brother only enjoys the pastries made by that girl's maid. He’s ill, and it’s rare for him to find something he likes to eat—"

"That’s simple. Just send an invitation in Rui’er’s name to that girl, asking her to bring her maid over to the mansion to bake them."

"It’s not as convenient as having them made here at home."

"You’re overthinking this, dear. No matter how much one likes a certain food, can they eat it every single day without getting sick of it? Once Third Brother has had his fill, naturally Sixth Miss Qiu won’t need to come anymore." Chancellor Fang’s tone grew a bit stern. "Xue Quan’s not someone to mess with. Since there’s a way to handle this, why make an enemy of him?"

"Understood."

The next day, Earl Yongqing met with Chancellor Fang again.

"Forget about what we discussed yesterday. The matchmaker said the two kids aren’t a good match."

Earl Yongqing had been torn over whether the deal was worth it, but now that it fell through, he keenly felt the loss of a hereditary title. When he got home, he kept sighing.

"Send for the Sixth Miss."

Before long, Qiu Heng arrived.

"Grandfather."

Earl Yongqing looked at his granddaughter and sighed: "Alas."

He looked again and sighed once more: "Alas."

Qiu Heng lowered her eyes, speculating silently: Could it be that he thinks he can trade me for something even better and regrets not sending me to the Chancellor’s mansion?

After sighing for a while with no reaction from his granddaughter, Earl Yongqing spoke in a muffled voice: "The Chancellor’s mansion said you and Third Master Fang aren’t quite suited. Forget about what I mentioned to you yesterday."

Qiu Heng was startled.

Forget it?

Had something unexpected happened?