Chapter 259 February

Chapter 259: February

Hu Si returned on the twenty-second of the first month.

Upon receiving the letter from Xue Han, Qiu Heng took Fang Zhou and left the house.

Wu Qingzhou drove the carriage steadily, but the person in the carriage was not at ease.

"Miss, did Hu Si really lose a hand?" Fang Zhou asked, her tone full of regret.

"We'll see him soon." Qiu Heng lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, letting the chilly spring breeze blow in.

The streets were bustling with traffic and crowds. The festive spirit of the New Year seemed not yet fully dissipated, while the excitement of early spring had already arrived.

The carriage stopped in front of Xue's residence.

Uncle Xiao, the gatekeeper, spotted Qiu Heng and quickly sent a servant inside to inform Xue Han.

Qiu Heng, accompanied by Fang Zhou, approached. After exchanging greetings with Uncle Xiao, she saw Xue Han walking swiftly toward them.

"A Heng, you're here. Please come in."

"Where is Commander Hu?" Qiu Heng lifted her skirt and crossed the threshold.

This was her first time stepping into Xue Han's home.

The courtyard was clean and tidy, paved with smooth bluestone slabs. A few trees were planted in the corners—not a grand mansion, but an ordinary residential house.

"I told him to wait inside."

As he accompanied Qiu Heng further in, out of the corner of his eye he saw Fang Zhou glancing around curiously, and Xue Han suddenly felt a pang of regret.

He should have bought a larger house. Although A Heng didn't care about such things, a bigger house would be roomier and more comfortable.

Fortunately, there were still two years to go until their wedding—enough time.

"Sixth Miss Qiu!" Hu Si walked out of the room, his face brightening when he saw Qiu Heng. Then he broke into a broad grin at Fang Zhou. "Fang Zhou's here too!"

Qiu Heng looked at Hu Si's arm, noticing the empty sleeve hanging from his left side. She pursed her lips.

"It's nothing, actually. I was lucky. It was my left hand. If it had been my right, I'd be in trouble."

"The important thing is you're back safe and sound. Commander Hu, you've had a long journey. Later, try some of Fang Zhou's pastries—she made all sorts of things for you today." Seeing that Hu Si hadn't lost his spirit, Qiu Heng felt a sense of relief.

Losing an arm at such a young age must be painful, but as long as his spirit was still intact, that was what mattered.

Fang Zhou concealed the sympathy in her eyes and raised the food box toward Hu Si. "There are both sweet and savory treats, including a new recipe I learned—lotus seed buns. Try them all, Commander Hu. If there's something you especially like, I'll make more."

"Thank you, Fang Zhou. What a treat! Before, I had to battle our boss to get a taste. You have no idea how protective he is over food—"

"Hu Si."

Hu Si chuckled and stopped revealing Xue Han's secrets.

The meal was laid out in the main hall, with both wine and meat. Hu Si recounted how he had protected Princess Rongning as they fled Western Jiang and stayed at the border to recover from his injuries.

"Back then, I told myself I couldn't die. Even if I lost both hands and feet, I had to live. Only by living could I hear the good news about you, sir, and... Miss Qiu..." Hu Si's eyes glistened with tears as he grew tipsy.

Xue Han gave Hu Si's shoulder a firm pat—words were unnecessary.

Hu Si got really drunk, and only Xue Han walked Qiu Heng and Fang Zhou to the gate.

"Hu Si will stay with me for now. A Heng, what do you think about me buying a bigger house?"

"In the capital, land is precious. Isn't this enough for now?"

Having read about cities destroyed and bloodshed in books, and having witnessed ruins and lives reduced to nothing, Qiu Heng believed that only people mattered. Everything else was superficial.

"Oh, I'll look into it then."

On the carriage back to the Earl's residence, Fang Zhou couldn't suppress her grin.

"Why are you smiling so slyly?" Qiu Heng asked with a laugh.

"Miss, didn't you realize? Master Xue was asking about your future residence after marriage."

Qiu Heng covered her face with a round fan, leaning against the carriage. "I'm tired. Let me nap for a bit."

Two days later, Qiu Heng received an invitation from Princess Rongning. The meeting place happened to be Taoran Tower.

Princess Rongning had not only invited Qiu Heng but also Xue Han and Hu Si, primarily to thank Hu Si in person.

"Your Highness, you flatter me. Protecting you back to Great Xia was both an order from my superior and my duty as a guard."

"Everyone was either injured or lost their lives protecting me..." Princess Rongning smiled bitterly, subtly bringing up Hu Si's future prospects.

Hu Si flatly refused Princess Rongning's suggestion that Prince Fu arrange a position for him. "I'll stick with our boss."

Xue Han raised his glass to Princess Rongning. "Thank you for considering Hu Si's future, Your Highness. Fortunately, I've been reinstated as Imperial City Commissioner. As long as I'm in the Imperial City Bureau, there will always be a place for Hu Si."

"Knowing that Commander Hu's position won't be affected, I'm relieved." Princess Rongning handed a small box to Hu Si. "I thought you might refuse this, but I hope you won't. Otherwise, I won't be at ease."

Hu Si hesitated, not reaching out.

It was inside a box—he wasn't sure if it was appropriate to accept.

Seeing his hesitation, Princess Rongning opened the box directly. "Just two thousand taels in silver drafts."

Hu Si wasn't one to argue. Seeing it was only money, he took it with a grin. "Thank you, Your Highness. Now I have enough for a wife."

He was happy to receive the money, and Princess Rongning felt at ease—a win for both sides.

On the way back to Xue's residence after the gathering, Hu Si patted Xue Han's arm. "Boss, do you have enough money to buy a new house?"

"Keep your own money for your wife."

"But do you have enough to marry Sixth Miss Qiu?"

"Mind your own business."

...

In the following days, Qiu Heng went out more often—sometimes visiting Prince Fu's mansion, sometimes meeting County Princess Jiayi for incense appreciation. The noble ladies curious about Qiu Heng's experiences in Western Jiang finally stopped worrying about displeasing the imperial family by associating with her. Invitations rained down like snowflakes.

In Yuchen Palace, Honored Consort Yu stroked her long, manicured nails as she finished hearing the report. She smiled enigmatically. "Fluttering around like a butterfly—quite popular. Go to Earl Yongqing's residence and tell County Princess Suiyun that I miss her. Invite her to the palace for a visit."

When Qiu Heng received the summons from Honored Consort Yu's palace, she was just done feeding the pigeons.

"How coincidental." Looking at the white pigeon tilting its head, its eyes shifting restlessly, Qiu Heng murmured under her breath. She rose and went to change clothes.

The palace sedan chair that had come to pick her up was parked just outside Chui Hua Gate. Ignoring Qiu Heng's protests, the elderly matriarch followed her out, watched her get into the sedan chair and leave, and let out a heavy sigh.

The trusted old nanny whispered reassuringly, "Madam, don't worry. The sixth young lady has been to Her Grace the Honored Consort many times. She knows what she's doing."

"What good does her knowing do? Brute force can overwhelm all kinds of skill." The elderly matriarch muttered as she stood in the cold wind. She turned around and walked back inside, her steps heavy.

That Honored Consort Yu enjoyed the emperor's boundless favor—if she said snow was warm, even the Son of Heaven would agree. Get on her bad side, and there was no room for reason at all.

As the unassuming palace sedan chair was carried toward the palace, a eunuch from Yuchen Palace got out of a carriage and walked into Taoran Pavilion.

"You've arrived."

The waiter led the eunuch into a private room, and before long brought fine wine and delicious food.

After eating his fill, the eunuch wiped the corners of his mouth and asked, "Is the roast duck ready?"