Chapter 157 Third Master Fang Passes Away

Chapter 157: Third Master Fang Passes Away from Illness

The news of Qiu Fu's disappearance was kept under wraps by Earl Yongqing's strict orders, only saying she was sick and needed rest.

When Eldest Brother Qiu Yang came home from the Imperial Academy on break and heard that Fourth Sister was sick, he wanted to see her but couldn't.

When the sisters gathered, Qiu Ying couldn't help but say, "Even Big Brother's in the dark. If we hadn't been at Qiansong Hall that day, we'd probably be in the dark too."

Qiu Yun glanced at Qiu Ying but said nothing.

Fifth Sister was being disrespectful to the elders. Before, she would've told her to stop, but after that awkward conversation the other day, she couldn't be bothered to meddle.

Everyone's got their own path; no point sticking your nose in.

"Where did Fourth Sister go?" Qiu Ying asked, curious and worried.

Qiu Xuan quietly glanced at Qiu Heng.

She had a hunch Fourth Sister's disappearance was tied to Sixth Sister, but she wouldn't say it out loud or ask Sixth Sister.

Still, she hoped she was wrong. Though young, Sixth Sister was reliable; if she'd helped Fourth Sister, she'd be safe out there.

As the Qiu sisters fretted over Qiu Fu, Earl Yongqing headed to Qiansong Hall.

Facing the Old Madam's cold stare, the Earl lost his usual swagger. He slumped into a chair, poured himself some tea, and stared off into space.

The Old Madam had lost weight these past few days, her face worn but her eyes sharper. She shot a look at the dazed Earl and ignored him.

Suddenly, the Earl slammed his cup down with a crash, spilling tea everywhere.

He stared hard at the Old Madam, his voice raspy: "Did you hear? Third Master Fang died of illness!"

The Old Madam's eyes tightened, then she sneered: "Didn't Heng'er warn you ages ago that Third Master Fang was deathly ill?"

"Warning? What good did that do? Saying no just pissed off the Chancellor's mansion. Now that Third Master Fang's dead, they'll definitely think if Fourth Girl had gone to bring him luck, he'd still be alive."

"If Fourth Girl had gone and he still died, wouldn't the Chancellor's mansion blame her?"

The Earl blurted out, "That's not the same."

"How's that different?" The Old Madam quickly figured it out. "You mean, if Fourth Girl were sent to the Chancellor's mansion, they'd take it out on her alone, and the estate would be fine."

The Earl turned red with shame and anger: "What's wrong with thinking like that? If Fourth Girl went to bring him luck and he got better, the Chancellor's mansion would definitely reward us. Even if it didn't work, they wouldn't go after the whole estate. You're all heart, no head—just wait and see!"

A few days after the Earl said that, First Master Qiu got caught making a mistake by his boss and lost his job.

"See? Told you!" The Earl stormed into Qiansong Hall, almost poking his finger in the Old Madam's face.

The Old Madam stayed quiet.

Two days later, something else happened: Physician Yan, a director at the Ministry of Works, was accused of corruption on a construction project and charged with embezzling public money.

This time, the Earl called his eldest son and his wife, his second son and his wife, and all the granddaughters in the know to Qiansong Hall.

"Physician Yan's accusation over the construction thing is just a cover. The truth is, the Chancellor's mansion demanded his daughter become Third Master Fang's concubine, and Physician Yan refused, saying she was already engaged." The Earl slowly scanned the room. "Now that Physician Yan's convicted, his daughter won't go to the Chancellor's mansion as a concubine—she'll probably end up in some awful place just to get by."

At that, Qiu Xuan and the others hung their heads.

The Earl saw this with a twisted sense of satisfaction: "I've worked my tail off, always thinking of the estate, to make sure our family lives in peace. And you? You blame your grandfather for being cruel!"

"Father, don't be angry. The children are still immature." First Master Qiu, looking down, forced himself to console his father.

He'd lost his good job, and his inheritance was up in the air—he hadn't slept well in days.

"If the Earl's done, let's call it a day. I'm tired." The Old Madam spoke flatly.

"Think before you act from now on. Being impulsive is the worst." The Earl glanced at the Old Madam and left Qiansong Hall first.

"You may all go too."

Leaving Qiansong Hall, the warmth from inside faded in the wind.

It was now November.

The bare branches of withered flowers and trees met their eyes, bleak and lonely.

Qiu Ying looked bewildered: "Earlier, I thought Grandfather was cruel to Fourth Sister, but hearing about Physician Yan's fate, his actions seem somewhat reasonable—yet something feels off."

"What if you were the one sent to be Third Master Fang's concubine?" Qiu Heng asked directly.

Qiu Ying's face paled.

Qiu Heng's tone was cold: "When one person takes the hit and everyone else benefits, it's easy to think Grandfather's right."

Qiu Ying fell silent.

Qiu Yun pursed her lips: "Then... isn't it better than everyone suffering?"

"Suffering together and suffering one by one—there's no difference." Qiu Heng's tone grew colder.

When the Chief Minister is someone like Chancellor Fang, and the Monarch is someone like Emperor Jingping, in a few years, the land will be shattered, and we'll truly become livestock.

"Sixth Sister, you're right. No matter what, using family for gain is wrong; we can't judge only by the outcome." Qiu Ying had come around.

Qiu Yun disagreed but wisely kept silent.

After the four sisters parted, Qiu Heng went out alone.

The Chancellor's residence wasn't far from the Earl's estate. Qiu Heng walked all the way, and when she reached the street where the residence stood, she saw white banners everywhere, with mourners coming and going in an endless stream.

She stood at a distance from the residence, watching silently.

What a lively scene—such a bustling gateway showed Chancellor Fang's power.

"A Heng, what are you doing here?"

Qiu Heng turned to look at the young man approaching and softly called his name: "Xue Han, long time no see."

It hadn't been that long, really, but the oppressive atmosphere in the estate these days made that meeting by the Green Lotus Lake feel like ages ago.

"Yes, long time no see." Xue Han gazed at the girl before him.

She had said Third Master Fang was frail and might not last, and now he was truly dead.

"I just came out from paying my respects. Are you here to do the same, A Heng?"

"I just came to see how lively it is here."

"It's crowded and chaotic. Let's go back."

Qiu Heng nodded and walked side by side with Xue Han, listening as he murmured, "The Prime Minister's residence brought in a woman surnamed Liu as a concubine for Third Master Fang. On the seventh day after his death, during the head-seven rites, Liu followed him in suicide..."

Qiu Heng paused mid-stride.

Besides Qiu Fu and the Yan girl, there were others.

"A Heng."

"Hmm?" Qiu Heng looked up at the youth who had suddenly called her name.

"In a place like the Prime Minister's residence, it's not easy to shut the door and live a peaceful life."

Qiu Heng twitched the corner of her mouth.

Xue Han still remembered the made-up excuse she had given that day to enter the Prime Minister's residence.

"Got it. Thanks for the reminder, Official Xue."

The youth paused mid-motion as he reached into his robe, raising an eyebrow to ask, "What did you call me?"

Had a few days apart made her want to retreat to their old distance?

"Xue Han." Qiu Heng smiled. "I called you Xue Han."

Perhaps she was no less important to Xue Han than Xue Quan was. Perhaps she could try harder to make Xue Han favor her more.