Chapter 317 A Fu

Chapter 317: A Fu

Wu Qingzhou, chosen by Ling Yun to protect Qiu Heng, was one of the best among the guards of the prince's mansion. Once at the Earl's residence, he was assigned to a small side courtyard, sharing it with two senior stewards.

At the courtyard entrance, Fang Zhou called out cheerfully, "Brother Wu, the young lady is here."

Soon, a tall figure strode out of the house. Seeing Qiu Heng entering the courtyard, he clasped his fists in greeting: "Sixth Young Lady."

Qiu Heng looked over the young man she hadn't seen for some time.

He was thinner and sunburned, travel-worn, clearly exhausted.

"Brother Wu, you've had a long journey. How are things at home?"

Wu Qingzhou's eyes darkened, but his tone remained calm: "Thank you for your concern, Sixth Young Lady. My elder brother and sister-in-law... have both passed away."

"Brother Wu, please accept my condolences."

Qiu Heng noticed a young boy timidly hiding by the door of the house. "Is that your nephew, Brother Wu?"

Wu Qingzhou turned to look and beckoned to the boy: "A Fu, come over and greet the young lady."

A... Fu?

Qiu Heng felt a jolt in her mind and instinctively stepped back, her eyes fixed on the boy standing still.

She was sure she hadn't misheard—Wu Qingzhou had called the boy A Fu!

A Fu, Uncle Fu—was this a coincidence, or was A Fu the same Uncle Fu who had taught her all her martial arts skills?

Seeing his nephew standing still, Wu Qingzhou strode over and coaxed gently, "Don't be afraid, A Fu. I told you on the way, the Sixth Young Lady is a very kind person..."

Qiu Heng walked over slowly.

A Fu looked up, his gaze went past Wu Qingzhou and settled on Qiu Heng's face with a mixture of curiosity and unease.

Wu Qingzhou followed his nephew's gaze and turned around and found Qiu Heng right behind him. He explained apologetically, "Ever since the sudden tragedy at home, A Fu hasn't talked much with others..."

Qiu Heng crouched down to be level with A Fu, her voice soft as the breeze: "How old are you this year, A Fu?"

A Fu remained silent.

"He's six," Wu Qingzhou answered from the side.

Six years old.

That meant when she had returned three years ago, A Fu had been three. And from then, forty years later, A Fu would be in his forties—the age of Uncle Fu.

Qiu Heng studied the little boy intently, from his brow to the shape of his lips, finally settling on the small mole right in the center of his left cheek.

A person's appearance changes a lot from childhood to middle age, but no matter how much it changes, the traces of childhood remain.

Qiu Heng was certain: the boy called A Fu was Uncle Fu.

"A-A Fu, is that a childhood name? What's his full name?"

A look of confusion appeared in Wu Qingzhou's eyes.

In his impression, the Sixth Young Lady was always calm and composed, facing everything without a care. But now something seemed wrong with her—she looked at his nephew like she was about to cry.

Was it sympathy for the boy losing both parents at such a young age?

He came up with a reason and said, "We don't stand on ceremony at home. A Fu's full name is Wu Fu."

"What a wonderful name."

Qiu Heng slowly straightened up, calming the volcanic emotions inside her, and managed a small smile at A Fu. "Do you like pastries, A Fu? I brought you a box—Fang Zhou made them."

Receiving Qiu Heng's glance, Fang Zhou opened the food box, revealing a box packed with pastries.

"Take whatever you like, A Fu," Fang Zhou said, she was much more relaxed and cheerful than Qiu Heng's. She took A Fu's hand as she spoke.

A Fu instinctively pulled his hand back, but Fang Zhou held on. "Just try one. I made them myself. No one has ever eaten my pastries and not liked them. If you don't believe me, ask your uncle."

A Fu shot a pleading look at Wu Qingzhou.

But Wu Qingzhou noticed a spark of light returning to his nephew's gaze, no longer sunk in that dark, worrying gloom. So he acted like he didn't see his nephew's discomfort and laughed warmly, "Fang Zhou isn't lying. Her pastries are the best in the world—even better than the ones I used to bring back from the Commandery Prince's mansion."

A Fu's listless eyes blinked.

He was only six, after all. The blow of losing his parents was immense, but good food was just as tempting.

Remembering the delicious pastries he had tasted before, A Fu couldn't help swallowing.

Fang Zhou immediately picked up a piece of red bean pastry and offered it to him. "Try it."

Red bean pastry, a modest treat common in ordinary households, was more appealing to A Fu at this moment than the fancy pastries that looked too good to eat. He hesitated, then took the pastry, nibbled it, then took a huge bite.

Seeing his nephew, Wu Qingzhou's eyes welled up.

"A Fu, let's go inside to eat. Fang Zhou will first take you to wash your hands..."

Knowing that Qiu Heng wanted to speak with Wu Qingzhou in private, Fang Zhou picked up the food box with one hand and took A Fu's hand with the other, leading him into the house.

"Sixth Young Lady, thank you and Fang Zhou. Since my brother and sister-in-law passed, A Fu only interacts with me. I've been worried it might become a problem."

Qiu Heng's mind was in chaos, but she kept her expression calm. "Such a blow is hard even for adults to bear, let alone a child as young as A Fu. Don't worry too much, Brother Wu. With time, he'll come around slowly."

"That's what I think too. Sixth Young Lady, I have a bold request."

"Go ahead."

"I'd like to keep A Fu with me here for a while, and once his mood improves a bit, I'll send him back to the Commandery Prince's mansion."

"That's not a bold request at all. You're the closest person to A Fu. From now on, A Fu can stay here at the Earl's residence. When he's better, we can send him to school."

Wu Qingzhou shook his head. "A Fu's path is already set. He has a better natural talent for martial arts than I do. He'll go to the martial training hall of the Commandery Prince's mansion to train, and eventually become a guard there..."

Qiu Heng's eyes widened. She whispered, "A guard for the Commandery Prince's mansion—"

A Fu would become a guard of the Commandery Prince's mansion, and the Uncle Fu she knew had always been with her master.

Who was the Master?

A suspicion formed in her mind, and Qiu Heng unconsciously shook her head.

No, the ages don't add up.

Brother Ling is only in his early twenties; how could he possibly be the gentleman who is over a hundred years old?

Could it be that it's his father, Prince Kang?

How old is Prince Kang now?

Suddenly seeing a young Uncle Fu and learning of his connection to Prince Kang's mansion, Qiu Heng, however composed she usually was, could no longer stay calm.

She had to go to Prince Kang's mansion immediately!

Wu Qingzhou noticed Qiu Heng's unusual behavior and asked with concern, "Sixth Miss, are you all right?"

"I'm fine."

Qiu Heng fought the urge to turn and leave. Only after Fang Zhou led A Fu out did she finally bid farewell to Wu Qingzhou: "You've had a long journey; get some rest tonight. Tomorrow, Brother Wu, bring A Fu to Lengxiang Residence, and we'll eat together."

After leaving the side courtyard, Fang Zhou asked in confusion, "Miss, what's so special about A Fu?"

She was not fond of children; back in Yunfeng Village, when she encountered kids as old as A Fu causing trouble, she would beat them mercilessly.

"Fang Zhou, you go back to Lengxiang Residence first. I'm going out; I'll tell you when I return."

"It's almost dark, Miss. Come back soon."

Qiu Heng hurriedly left the earl's mansion and headed straight to Prince Kang's mansion.