Chapter 278 The Third Autumn

Chapter 278: The Third Autumn

Qiu Heng carefully put away the booklet and left the palace early the next morning.

Outside the palace, willow branches danced, and Xue Han was waiting there.

Qiu Heng walked toward him: "I guessed you would come looking for me."

She saw the bloodshot veins in his eyes.

"Didn't you sleep well last night?"

"Couldn't get to sleep." Xue Han's voice was a little hoarse from staying up all night, "Let's walk by the lake, then I'll take you home."

The two walked to Qinglian Lake.

With the legend of haunting and the Ghost Festival just past, Qinglian Lake was eerily quiet. Lotus leaves covered most of the lake surface, pink blooms half-open or closed—a breathtaking sight.

Qiu Heng handed the booklet to Xue Han: "Last night, the imperial physician prepared the antidote pills according to the prescription. Honored Consort Yu took them and they worked, so she gave me this booklet."

Xue Han opened it and looked it over. When he closed it, his eyes were startlingly bright: "With this, the Northern Qi's decades of infiltration and operations will surely suffer a severe blow. A Heng, you've worked hard these past few days."

Dealing with someone like Honored Consort Yu was like walking on eggshells every step of the way.

"I'm fine. But you, why have you worn yourself out like this?" Qiu Heng lightly tapped the corner of Xue Han's eye.

Xue Han smiled: "I'm fine too. I just stayed up with Uncle Xu studying the prescription and got a fair amount of scolding."

"We really have to thank Uncle Xu this time. What does Uncle Xu like? I'll prepare a gift and go see him later."

"Uncle Xu really likes the pastries Fang Zhou makes. But what he likes most..." Xue Han paused.

"What does he like most?"

Xue Han pulled Qiu Heng close and whispered in her ear: "He likes to have a niece-in-law as soon as possible."

Qiu Heng was stunned for a moment before realizing who this niece-in-law referred to.

"Looks like you're not tired enough, still have the energy to be glib." Qiu Heng gave him a pinch.

Xue Han grabbed her hand, his voice sounding hurt: "I haven't slept properly in two days, and I wasn't being glib. Just stating the truth."

"Go home and get some sleep." Qiu Heng raised her hand to cover Xue Han's mouth, "No kissing."

If Fang Zhou catches us again, it'll be so embarrassing.

Qiu Heng returned to the Earl of Yongqing's mansion. The nerve-wracking events of the past two days in the palace remained unknown to others. She was never summoned by Honored Consort Yu again, and her days suddenly settled down.

Soon it was August. The news that the Imperial City Bureau had wiped out several Northern Qi spy dens and arrested many spies shocked the court and the public.

Emperor Jingping was overjoyed, promoting Xue Han another rank and rewarding him generously.

Xue Quan looked at Xue Han with eyes full of pride: "I didn't expect you to do so well in the Imperial City Bureau."

As an eunuch with no family to fall back on, all he wanted was the emperor to live long and the kingdom to be stable, so he could enjoy lasting good days.

Northern Qi, which had been coveting Great Xia, was utterly detestable.

"It's all because you gave me the chance, Father."

"Good, good, good." Xue Quan patted Xue Han's shoulder, saying "good" three times in a row, thinking that his adopted son was perfect in every way except for one flaw—he was in love with Qiu Heng.

Strangely, although everyone in the capital knew the two were a couple, Han'er had never asked him to send a marriage proposal to the Earl of Yongqing's household.

"The matters at hand are almost settled. Take some time to relax. In two days, accompany me to Lingwei Taoist Temple."

"Yes." Xue Han replied, his heart skipping a beat.

Recently, his adoptive father had been visiting Lingwei Temple more often than before. The reputation of Master Miaoqing was growing day by day.

Before the Mid-Autumn Festival, Xue Han accompanied Xue Quan to Lingwei Temple, seeing the big ceremony in person presided over by Master Miaoqing. He returned with a sweet fragrance and went to meet Qiu Heng.

The meeting place was still Qinglian Lake. As soon as she approached, Qiu Heng picked up the faint sweet scent: "You went to a Taoist temple? Stayed quite a while?"

The Jiangzhen incense clinging to his clothes—just one whiff and you knew it was top-quality.

"I accompanied my adoptive father to Lingwei Temple. I stayed quite a while and didn't have time to change clothes before coming."

"Lingwei Temple." Qiu Heng murmured, "Were there many people? Did anything unusual happen?"

"Quite a few nobles were there. Nothing particularly unusual."

"Lingwei Temple is even more famous than the imperial temple now."

Xue Han nodded: "Yes, it's all because of Master Miaoqing."

"I heard Master Miaoqing came from out of town. Xue Han, I'd like you to look into his background."

In a few months, Xue Quan would present the medicine to Emperor Jingping. The "elixir" that would cost the emperor's life was likely connected to Master Miaoqing.

Though she had decided to let Xue Quan deliver the medicine to the Unwise Monarch, she couldn't be completely in the dark about Master Miaoqing, so she wouldn't be caught off guard.

Xue Han reached out and tousled Qiu Heng's hair: "Don't say 'please' like that. A Heng, do you think there's something off about Master Miaoqing?"

"I... I don't know."

The book didn't say where Xue Quan's elixir came from, but in this world, almost all skilled alchemists were Taoist priests. Since Xue Quan was close with Master Miaoqing, looking into him couldn't hurt.

"Alright, I'll have someone look into it." Xue Han didn't ask further. He lowered his head and gently kissed Qiu Heng's cheek, "A Heng, happy Mid-Autumn Festival."

Mid-Autumn was a time for family reunions, and the two, not yet married, could only spend it apart.

"Xue Han, happy Mid-Autumn Festival."

They exchanged blessings in advance and returned to their respective homes.

This was Qiu Heng's third Mid-Autumn Festival at the Earl of Yongqing's mansion.

The first Mid-Autumn, she was playing along hypocritically with Earl Yongqing. The second was spent in Western Jiang, not knowing if she'd live or die.

But this Mid-Autumn, Qiu Heng could clearly feel the difference.

The Earl of Yongqing had lost his drive to curry favor everywhere, and after being verbally battered by the old lady for so long, he seemed dejected, which actually made him look more tolerable.

Madam Zhao, the eldest wife, was much more polite, no longer pulling rank like the lady of the house toward her.

The mansion's servants were openly warm and respectful.

But what truly relieved Qiu Heng was that three of the Five Traitors were gone. The losses from the southeastern civil unrest were far less than history recorded. Western Jiang was caught up in internal strife, too busy to take advantage of Great Xia. And Northern Qi's spy network had been crippled.

Qiu Heng returned to Cold Fragrance Residence and sat facing Fang Zhou in the courtyard, raising their cups and clinking them together.

"Miss, you look very happy today."

"Is that so?" Qiu Heng couldn't help but curl her lips.

Fang Zhou blinked: "They say the full moon brings people together. Miss, don't you miss Master Xue?"

"No, I just want to spend it with Fang Zhou."

"You're lying, miss." Fang Zhou grinned from ear to ear. "If Master Xue and I both fell into the river, who would you save?"

"Of course I'd save Fang Zhou."

Seeing that Fang Zhou wanted to tease her further, Qiu Heng picked up a mooncake and stuffed it into her mouth: "Stop laughing."

That night, Qiu Heng fell asleep in a good mood and had a series of beautiful dreams. Though she couldn't recall the dream details upon waking, the feeling of joy lingered in her heart for a long time.

However, this lighthearted mood did not last more than a few days. Another summons from Jade Chen Palace arrived.

Unable to guess the purpose of Honored Consort Yu's summons, Qiu Heng prepared herself and boarded the palace sedan chair.

In Jade Chen Palace, the fragrance of osmanthus remained. Honored Consort Yu smiled radiantly at the young girl who had greeted her: "It's been a few days, County Princess Suiyun, you're looking even more radiant."

"Your Highness is the one whose elegance grows daily."

Honored Consort Yu waved her hand to dismiss the palace attendants and said with a smile: "I heard that Xue Han has been sweeping in all directions, rooting out many spies. You have not disappointed me, County Princess."

Upon hearing these words, a subtle change appeared in Qiu Heng's eyes.