Chapter 287 Nothing to Do with Our Earl’s Mansion

Chapter 287: It Has Nothing to Do with Our Earl's Residence

On the Imperial Street, countless lanterns still glowed, the lingering scent of fireworks settling heavily in the air, yet the atmosphere around Lehua Tower was somber and oppressive, as if a storm was brewing.

The gathered highborn ladies watched with nervousness as a squad of guards approached.

Xue Han walked at the front, his gaze meeting Qiu Heng's. He stopped. "It's late, ladies. Go home and rest well. Tomorrow, we may need to ask you about what happened at Lehua Tower tonight."

The noble ladies present were among the highest-born in the capital; ordinarily, they would never be subjected to questioning by the Imperial City Bureau. But considering that the one involved was the Honored Consort, everything made sense.

Anyway, the Honored Consort's trouble had nothing to do with them.

With that thought, the women even looked forward to tomorrow's questioning with a hint of anticipation.

Such a major incident—even just hearing about it would make you gasp—and they had actually witnessed it.

Xue Han had expected these proud daughters of heaven to be displeased at his words, but instead he saw a gleam of excitement in their eyes. He was puzzled for a moment, then walked closer to Qiu Heng.

Wow, Official Xue and Sixth Miss Qiu are really a thing!

The ladies all took a step back in unison, showing remarkable unspoken agreement.

Xue Han's steps paused for a moment, then he asked Qiu Heng, "Is the County Lady feeling better?"

"I've fully recovered."

"Then you should return early. Tonight will be busy; I'm sorry I cannot escort you."

"It's fine. Go attend to your duties. Many of my family members came to view the lanterns—I'll go find them."

"Stay safe." Xue Han nodded slightly to Princess Rongning and the others, then turned and left.

Qiu Heng pretended not to notice the gossipy look in the ladies' eyes and bid farewell to Princess Rongning.

Princess Rongning squeezed her hand. "Travel safely."

Qiu Heng walked along the Imperial Street and soon spotted Qiu Yang and the others waiting ahead.

"Sixth Sister, over here," Qiu Yang called out.

Qiu Heng walked over and was immediately surrounded by her siblings.

"Sixth Sister, are you all right?" Qiu Yang's face showed unconcealed worry. "Did an assassin sneak into Lehua Tower? We saw from afar—many people were running around upstairs..."

As for the sounds, they hadn't heard much; the Imperial Street was far too noisy.

"Yes, an assassin did get in. It seems someone was hurt."

"Oh my god." Qiu Ying clutched her chest. "An assassin managed to get into Lehua Tower! The victim must be someone of great importance. Thank heavens you're safe, Sixth Sister."

Qiu Heng glanced back toward Lehua Tower. Though she couldn't see where Xue Han was, she knew he must be there.

"The Palace Command and the Imperial City Bureau are both hunting the assassin. Tonight is bound to be chaotic. Let's head home early."

Hearing this, Qiu Yang immediately said, "Sixth Sister is right. We should go home early."

As the eldest of the three brothers, he naturally had to look after his siblings.

On the way back, Qiu Song kept asking questions.

"Sixth Sister, who was the victim?"

"Sixth Sister, did you see the assassin?"

"Sixth Sister—"

Qiu Fu slapped her hand over Qiu Song's mouth. "Shut it."

Once they reached the earl's residence, Qiu Heng said, "Let's keep what happened at Lehua Tower from Grandmother tonight. It might affect her sleep."

"Then we'll tell her and the rest first thing in the morning," Qiu Song said, looking eager.

Qiu Heng thought it over. The matter couldn't be hidden anyway, so she agreed. "I'll go pay respects to Grandmother tomorrow morning."

Qiu Fu and Qiu Ying exchanged a glance and had to suppress a wry smile.

Strangely enough, Sixth Sister usually didn't have to pay respects to Grandmother!

The siblings dispersed. Qiu Heng returned to Lengxiangju, washed up, and sat on the edge of the bed in her white sleeping robe, lost in thought.

Fang Zhou came over and sat down beside Qiu Heng.

"Miss, are you feeling bad because you killed Honored Consort Yu?"

Qiu Heng snapped back to reality, meeting Fang Zhou's worried gaze. She didn't conceal it. "A little sad."

Whenever she closed her eyes, she saw the scene of her mother on her deathbed.

"Mother was afraid we sisters would meet and not recognize each other. If she knows in the afterlife, she surely would hope we'd never met."

In the end, she had betrayed her mother's wish, killing her own flesh and blood.

"Miss, if you feel sad, just let it out. My shoulder's here for you. But don't be too sad. Honored Consort Yu intended to harm you first; if you hadn't killed her, she would have kept on trying."

"I know." Qiu Heng leaned lightly against Fang Zhou. "I know all that."

She understood every reason.

"Don't worry. I'm just a little sad, but I have no regrets at all."

Every step she took was the best choice she could have made.

The next morning, the old lady suddenly noticed that her grandchildren had come to pay respects much earlier than usual, and after finishing, they didn't leave.

What were these kids up to? Did they want to stay for breakfast together?

The old lady was just wondering about this when Qiu Heng entered.

"Sixth Sister's here!" Qiu Song leaped up.

The old lady couldn't help smiling at her youngest grandson's antics.

Yesterday, only Heng'er was qualified to ascend the tower to view the lanterns; he must be curious about what it looked like from up there.

"Good morning, Grandmother." Qiu Heng performed the ritual. Seeing the old lady look kindly, and Qiu Fu and the others looking at her eagerly, she was at a loss for words.

They'd been waiting for her to speak first?

"Heng'er, come sit. Did you enjoy viewing the lanterns from the tower last night?"

Qiu Heng figured the old lady had weathered plenty of storms, so she said directly: "Yesterday, assassins got into Lehua Tower; it was quite chaotic. It seemed someone got hurt. Princess Rongning and I ran downstairs first, so I don't know who it was."

The old lady's smile froze, her head buzzing. After a moment, she asked word by word: "Are you saying that assassins got into Lehua Tower, where the emperor had gone up?"

"Yes."

"And someone was hurt."

"Yes. Many of those who went up were detained. The ladies from the different households were allowed to go home first, and they said we'd be called in for questioning today."

The old lady's lips trembled. She took a sip of tea without a word.

So much for peaceful times—they just hadn't told her last night...

Who got hurt?

Not long after Qiu Heng was taken away by yamen officials, Earl Yongqing, who had just returned from outside, told the old lady the answer.

"Honored Consort Yu was attacked and killed!"

The old lady grabbed Earl Yongqing's wrist: "Who did you say?"

"Honored Consort Yu! The emperor's most beloved consort!" Earl Yongqing plopped down and poured himself a cup of tea.

The old lady, who had stood up in shock, collapsed back into her chair, staring blankly ahead.

Honored Consort Yu was dead!

Others might not know, but she knew—Sixth Girl's illness had started after she returned from Yuchen Palace.

What had Sixth Girl said at the time?

Honored Consort Yu had given her a cup of tea that might have been poisoned!

She had been skeptical for months, and now Honored Consort Yu was dead—

The old lady's face gradually turned pale, a storm raging in her heart.

So it was true that Honored Consort Yu wanted to harm Sixth Girl—otherwise, the consort wouldn't have died!

Earl Yongqing did not understand the old lady's reaction: "Why do you look so terrible? Even though Honored Consort Yu's assassination is a shock to the entire court and country, it has nothing to do with our manor—"

His next words died in his throat as the old lady fixed him with a piercing stare.

"Wh-what's wrong?"

"You don't know a damn thing!"