Chapter 256 Meeting the Parents

Chapter 256 Meeting the Family

Naturally, they couldn't make it back.

By the time they took a detour and reached the city gates, the gates had already been closed. They had to wait until the next morning when the gates reopened to enter the city.

Qiu Heng kept staring stubbornly at the closed city gates for a long while, then said helplessly, "Let's find a farmhouse to stay for the night."

Now that she thought about it, her searches for her teacher had never gone smoothly. That time with Brother Ling, they were ambushed by spies disguised as Taoist priests. This time, a landslide blocked the road.

Perhaps, as Xue Han had said, the time for her to meet her teacher had not yet come.

Xue Han also gazed intently at the city gates. His face was calm on the surface, but inwardly he felt like charging over and slamming his head into the gates.

If the old lady found out that A Heng had gone out with him and hadn't returned overnight—

"Xue Han, stop staring. The gates won't open no matter how much you look."

Xue Han reluctantly looked away. "Let's go. We need to find somewhere to stay first."

Qiu Heng didn't speak at first, quietly following Xue Han. But when she noticed that he didn't hesitate at any intersection, as if he knew exactly where he was going, she finally asked, "Is there someplace you know around here?"

"An elder lives on the outskirts of the capital. We'll impose on him for the night."

The elder Xue Han referred to was Uncle Xu, a former imperial physician.

He could imagine Uncle Xu's reaction when he saw him bringing a young woman over, but compared to lodging in a random farmhouse with strangers, it was safer and more reliable to go to someone he trusted.

Well, compared to the consequences of the old lady finding out, whatever Uncle Xu thought didn't matter.

"You never mentioned an elder living on the outskirts. What kind of person is he?"

"He used to be an imperial physician, but after getting into trouble, he retired to the countryside."

The two walked quickly, but it got dark even quicker this time of year. By the time they reached Uncle Xu's place, it was completely dark.

Xue Han didn't knock on the door but instead blew a bamboo whistle he always carried.

As they waited for the door to open, he explained in a low voice, "Uncle Xu is cautious. When he hears the whistle, he knows it's me."

Before long, footsteps came from inside, and then the door opened.

Uncle Xu, holding an oil lamp, grumbled, "You little rascal, can't you let an old man have some peace at night—"

When he spotted Qiu Heng standing beside Xue Han, the string of curses died in his throat. He instinctively raised the lamp toward Qiu Heng and exclaimed in shock, "A girl?"

Thinking his old eyes were playing tricks, he brought the lamp closer.

It really was a young lady!

Seeing that Uncle Xu wanted to raise the lamp for a third look, Xue Han interjected, "Uncle Xu, how about letting us in first before you take a closer look?"

Only then did Uncle Xu snap out of his shock. "Come in."

The courtyard was also pitch dark. Uncle Xu led them into the main hall, placed the oil lamp on the table, and turned to look at Xue Han. "You little scoundrel, what's this all about?"

"I went out of town on business with a friend and got delayed. We had no choice but to trouble you for the night, Uncle Xu."

Went out of town on business, with a friend?

Uncle Xu shot Qiu Heng a meaningful look, as if "I don't believe you" was written all over his face.

"Uncle Xu, this is A Heng."

Qiu Heng greeted him straightforwardly, "Uncle Xu."

Suddenly, Uncle Xu slapped his forehead as he remembered. "You little rascal, last time you came to ask me something, it was because of this girl—"

Xue Han quickly covered Uncle Xu's mouth, ignoring Uncle Xu's astonished look, and dragged him toward the eastern room. "Uncle Xu, have you been drinking again at night? I've told you, at your age, you should drink less—you might trip and fall..."

Once he had maneuvered Uncle Xu into the room, Xue Han finally let go.

Uncle Xu started cursing, "You little brat—"

Xue Han lowered his voice, "Uncle Xu, good Uncle Xu, you don't want me to end up alone for the rest of my life, do you?"

If A Heng ever found out that he had specifically come to consult Uncle Xu about the scent of blood on a woman, what would she think of him?

Even with his thick skin, Xue Han couldn't stand the thought.

"Look how worked up you're getting." Uncle Xu chuckled teasingly. "Have you decided on her?"

In front of Uncle Xu, Xue Han showed a childishness he rarely displayed even in front of Xue Quan. "Yes, I've decided."

"Alright, I won't say anything." Uncle Xu walked out. "My eyesight is bad at night, so I'll skip the formalities. A Heng, you can sleep in the western room. It's always empty. There's bedding in the cabinet—make your own bed."

Qiu Heng appreciated Uncle Xu's directness and smiled as she replied, "Alright."

Uncle Xu then looked at Xue Han.

Xue Han quickly offered, "If you don't mind, we can share a bed, or I can sleep in the woodshed."

Uncle Xu gave him a knowing half-smile.

Look how scared this kid is—did he think he'd suggest the two of them share the western room?

He might be a bit of a cynic, but he wasn't stupid.

"You'll sleep in my room, the eastern one. Have you eaten yet?"

Xue Han said "No" while Qiu Heng said "Yes."

Uncle Xu looked at Xue Han.

Xue Han gave an awkward smile. "We haven't eaten yet. We're starving."

"Wait here." Uncle Xu went out with his hands behind his back.

Maybe because she had spent so long wrestling with whether to kill Xue Quan, Qiu Heng always felt scrutinized and observed when facing him. But facing Uncle Xu, she felt like she was meeting an elder from Xue Han's family for the first time.

This made her a little embarrassed as well, and she murmured, "It's so late, why trouble Uncle Xu? And we couldn't even get our story straight."

Their lie was caught on the spot—all Xue Han's fault.

Xue Han heard her complaint and laughed. "It was me who was too hungry to sleep. I couldn't help it."

Qiu Heng looked at Xue Han's gentle smile, feeling her cheeks burn. Slowly, she lowered her eyes.

He went out of his way to be considerate in such a roundabout way—where did he learn to do that?

"Uncle Xu doesn't like to stand on ceremony, don't feel bad about bothering him."

"Got it."

A cough came, and Uncle Xu entered carrying a tray.

Xue Han hurried over to take it and placed it on the table.

The dinner Uncle Xu brought was very simple: a dish of pickled vegetables, a dish of salted fish, and several large steamed buns.

"Simple farm fare, just a little something to fill the stomach," Uncle Xu said, and as if remembering something, a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Nothing like those pastries that Xue Lad brought over."

Xue Han's expression froze, and he couldn't help glancing at Qiu Heng.

Qiu Heng acted as if she hadn't heard, taking bites of the bun and the pickles, and quickly finished one steamed bun.

Uncle Xu watched silently, satisfaction hidden in his eyes.

This girl's easy to please and not fussy—just the kind of girl Xue Han should find. If he'd married some high-born lady used to luxury, they might be happy for a while, but they'd struggle to make it work in the long run.

After the meal and a simple wash, Qiu Heng went to the west room to rest, while Xue Han and Uncle Xu slept together on the kang in the east room.

"Xue Lad, the sweetheart you found is a keeper."

Xue Han was silent for a long time, then said in a low voice, "Uncle Xu, she's the little girl who gave me the red bean cake..."

In the darkness, Uncle Xu gasped in surprise: "You really found her!"

The world saw Xue Han as young, powerful, cold, and willful, but he had always remembered the vulnerable side of that child.

When Xue Han was still a child, he often had nightmares. Eunuch Xue asked him to treat Xue Han, and once he heard the child open up about his inner turmoil.

Just that one time, but it brought them closer. Later, when he committed an offense, it was Xue Han who desperately begged Eunuch Xue to spare his life.

"Xue Lad, fate has been good to you; you'd better count your blessings."

A person who carries a heavy, unresolved burden in their heart often has their life cut short.

"Don't worry, Uncle Xu, I will."

Uncle Xu grunted in acknowledgment and was about to go to sleep, but suddenly asked, "You're staying together outside without being wed—don't her folks mind?"