Chapter 166 Is Sixth Miss Qiu Even Human?

Chapter 166: Is Sixth Miss Qiu Even Human?

"Third Brother, Third Brother, don't leave me!"

Madam Yang sat up abruptly, looking around frantically.

The room's furnishings and drapes were all too familiar, but her beloved son was gone, leaving only a faint trace of his scent.

A tear slid down Madam Yang's cheek.

Panic washed over her—a deep, crushing panic.

If her son's death from illness had been a devastating blow, the days of madness and despair that followed were a slow, painful process of acceptance.

But seeing him again, feeling the joy of having him back, made losing him once more unbearable.

"Madam Yang."

The girl's voice was very soft, yet it struck like a thunderclap, yanking Madam Yang back from the dream she didn't want to leave.

Madam Yang whipped her head toward the sound. Not far off, beside a small table, stood a girl in plain clothes with black hair, a faint smile on her lips, looking both real and unreal.

After a moment of stunned shock, she lunged forward and grabbed Qiu Heng's wrist.

Her hand was cool to the touch—warm and alive.

"Sixth Miss Qiu—" Madam Yang stammered, her lips trembling.

Qiu Heng didn't pull away. She asked softly, "Madam Yang, did you see Third Brother?"

"I saw him, I saw him..." Tears streamed down her face in big drops. Madam Yang tightened her grip and asked desperately, "Can I see him again?"

"Yes, you can."

Madam Yang's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"At least within the forty-nine days after his death. Once Third Brother's soul goes to the underworld, it'll be harder for you to see him."

"Forty-nine days..." Madam Yang counted the days left, a sharp pang in her chest. "When can I see Third Brother again?"

"It'll be easier on the twenty-first day."

"The twenty-first day... Good, I'll see Third Brother then." Madam Yang laughed and cried all at once.

"Madam Yang, it's late. I should get some rest. You should too—don't run yourself ragged."

"Okay, okay, I'll rest!" Madam Yang let go of Qiu Heng's hand. "Nanny Su—"

Nanny Su, who'd been waiting outside, came in.

"Madam," she said, but her eyes kept darting toward Qiu Heng.

"Take Sixth Miss Qiu back to her room."

At that, Nanny Su shuddered.

She... she didn't dare!

Someone save her!

A voice like heavenly music chimed in: "No need, I can go back myself."

Nanny Su breathed a huge sigh of relief.

"Nanny Su, see Sixth Miss Qiu out."

Nanny Su acknowledged the order and walked Qiu Heng out of Madam Yang's room, through the hall, and to the door.

"Nanny Su, go back inside. The yin energy is heavy out here at this hour," Qiu Heng said kindly, standing on the steps.

"Take care, Sixth Miss Qiu."

Nanny Su didn't dare be polite. She quickly slipped back inside, but couldn't help peeking out.

She saw the girl in the long dress glide a few yards away, vanishing from sight in just a few breaths.

Nanny Su stepped back, leaning against the doorframe, her breath heavy.

What do I do, what do I do? Sixth Miss Qiu really isn't human!

After a long while, Nanny Su dragged her heavy feet back into Madam Yang's room.

Madam Yang's eyes were bright, with no hint of sleep. As soon as she saw Nanny Su, she asked, "Did Sixth Miss Qiu leave?"

The dim candlelight hid Nanny Su's ashen face. "Yes."

"Nanny Su."

"I'm here."

Madam Yang stared intently at the empty small table. "I really saw Third Brother."

Nanny Su's heart clenched. Looking at the thin, haggard face in the candlelight, she forced a smile. "It's good you saw him, Madam."

"But the next time I see Third Brother won't be for seven days." Madam Yang covered her face, tears streaming.

Nanny Su didn't know what to say, only that the lingering scent in the room felt suffocating.

"Nanny Su, tomorrow morning, invite Sixth Miss Qiu over for a meal. Then go to Earl Yongqing's mansion and say I want to keep Sixth Miss Qiu here for a month or so."

"Yes."

Qiu Heng returned to her room, pushed open the window, and sat by it.

The cold wind rushed in, sweeping away the scent clinging to her clothes and fingertips.

Outside, the night was as dark as ink, the moon lonely, the stars cold. It would probably snow before long.

Madam Yang had successfully "seen" her son, and Qiu Heng had successfully won her trust. Things were going smoothly so far. Next, she'd get familiar with the security setup of the Chancellor's mansion and try to find that evidence as soon as possible.

The next day, when she saw Madam Yang again, Madam Yang explicitly asked Qiu Heng to stay for a short visit.

Seeing her hesitate, Madam Yang glanced at Nanny Su.

Nanny Su immediately presented a box and opened it, revealing it was full of gold peanuts, gold beans, and gold melon seeds—dazzling to the eye.

"I know Sixth Miss Qiu has her rules, charging only a hundred taels of silver at a time. This is unrelated to that. It's compensation for keeping you away from your familiar surroundings for so long." Madam Yang spoke very tactfully when she was clear-headed.

"Then thank you very much." Qiu Heng did not refuse. "When Nanny Su goes to the Earl's mansion to deliver the message, please take this along and give it to Fang Zhou."

Nanny Su nodded without thinking, and by the time she arrived at Earl Yongqing's mansion with the box in her arms, she felt oddly unsettled.

During the day, when Sixth Miss Qiu looked at the box full of gold, she seemed almost human again.

This time, when the Old Lady saw Nanny Su, she noticed that Nanny Su's words and demeanor were much more respectful.

"Give it to Fang Zhou?" The Old Lady was wary. "This doesn't look like something from the earl's mansion."

"Our madam gave it to Sixth Miss Qiu, and Sixth Miss Qiu asked me to bring it over."

After Nanny Su left, Fang Zhou arrived.

"A Heng asked Nanny Su to bring this to you. Go on, open it and take a look."

Fang Zhou hesitated for a moment.

The Old Lady's face darkened. "I am A Heng's grandmother. Can't I even look at it?"

She couldn't feel at ease without seeing what the Prime Minister's Madam had given A Heng. It was already impressive that she'd held out until this maid showed up.

Hearing this, Fang Zhou silently opened the box, and gasps echoed through the room.

The Old Lady half-stood, staring wide-eyed.

Senior Maid Chun Cao covered her mouth, thinking only one thing: Sixth Miss is seriously rich!

After the initial shock, the Old Lady's expression changed.

With so much gold, could the Prime Minister's Madam be trying to buy Sixth Girl's life?

"Get it out of here quickly." Unable to do anything about it, the Old Lady felt a pang of frustration and waved Fang Zhou off.

Xue Han visited the Prime Minister's mansion again on his day off, to pay his respects to Third Master Fang.

With a bereavement in the family, Chancellor Fang hadn't been going out for social calls. When he heard that Xue Han had arrived, he went to meet him in person.

"Chancellor Fang."

Chancellor Fang looked at the handsome young man and offered a faint smile. "Eunuch Xue is truly blessed, with descendants growing more accomplished by the day."

"You flatter me, Chancellor Fang. Xue Han is unworthy of such praise."

"You deserve it. I've heard His Majesty praise you several times—you're truly a promising young talent."

"Today, besides paying respects, I also wish to see Sixth Miss Qiu."

"Sixth Miss Qiu?" The minor matter of Qiu Heng staying at the mansion had not reached Chancellor Fang's ears.

"Yes, I sent a letter to Earl Yongqing's mansion, and they told me that Sixth Miss Qiu had come to the Prime Minister's mansion."

A Heng had already been at the mansion for several days. Whatever her purpose, for him, making sure she was safe was the most important thing.