Chapter 318 Chang Qing

Chapter 318: Changqing

Though dusk was falling, the streets were still lively.

Qiu Heng did not take a carriage, hurrying toward the Prince Kang manor.

"Sixth Miss?"

Hearing someone call her, Qiu Heng turned toward the voice. "Commander Hu?"

Hu Si left his two subordinates behind and strode over: "It's almost dark, Sixth Miss. Where are you off to?"

"I'm going to the Prince Kang manor."

"Oh, would you like me to escort you?"

"No need. Still on duty so late, Commander Hu?"

Hu Si coughed: "I'm urgently looking for Imperial Physician Wang—everyone's busy with that."

"Then you go ahead, Commander. I'll be on my way." Qiu Heng bid farewell to Hu Si.

Hu Si watched her quickly departing figure and rubbed his chin.

Such urgency—that's unusual.

Right, the Heir of Prince Kang had his heir title revoked today. Was Red Bean Cake going to see her sworn brother because of this?

She seemed quite concerned about her sworn brother. He needed to inform his lord.

After all, searching for Imperial Physician Wang was just for show. Hu Si instructed his men and went to find Xue Han.

"My lord, guess who I ran into on the street?"

Xue Han thought for a moment: "A Heng?"

"How did you know right away?"

Xue Han shot him a glance: "You wouldn't have run so fast for anyone else."

"My lord, do you know where Sixth Miss is going?"

"Speak."

"She's heading to Prince Kang's manor, definitely to comfort her sworn brother."

Xue Han patted Hu Si on the shoulder: "Hu Si."

"Yes, my lord?"

"Don't be such a gossip."

Hu Si felt terribly wronged: "How is that gossip? Think about it, my lord—with the Heir of Prince Kang's looks, his charm, his temperament... suddenly stripped of his heir title, do you think it's a flaw? No, no—it's clearly a tool to evoke a woman's pity!"

Xue Han hadn't paid much attention at first, but as he listened, he suddenly felt there was some truth in Hu Si's nonsense.

He knew better than anyone that A Heng was genuinely compassionate toward the poor and weak—otherwise, she wouldn't have given him that piece of red bean cake when they were young.

Now that the Heir of Prince Kang had fallen from grace, would A Heng care even more for her sworn brother?

He believed that A Heng's feelings for Ling Yun were only those of a brother and sister, yet there was still a tightness in his chest.

Once Prince Fu was caught, he really needed to finalize his engagement to A Heng as soon as possible.

When Qiu Heng arrived at the Prince Kang manor, she happened to run into Prince Kang on her way inside.

Qiu Heng's eyes lit up, and she rushed over: "Godfather!"

Prince Kang was startled and stepped back, his heart skipping several beats. Only after a closer look did he recognize Qiu Heng.

What was going on? Since when had his nominal goddaughter become so enthusiastic?

"A—A Heng, what brings you here at this hour?"

It had grown dark. Qiu Heng leaned in, staring fixedly at Prince Kang's face as she replied casually: "A Heng heard about my sworn brother's matter. I was worried about how you, godmother, and sworn brother might be feeling, so I came to check."

Was it her imagination, or did Prince Kang actually have a faint resemblance to the Master?

Perhaps she was just letting her assumptions get ahead of her.

Prince Kang felt that his nominal goddaughter's gaze was a little too intense—as if she were trying to stare a hole through him.

Was she really concerned about him, or had she lost her mind?

Thinking of Sixth Miss Qiu's "illustrious deeds," Prince Kang silently stepped back two more paces.

Qiu Heng frowned.

It was already dark outside, and the distance made it even harder to see.

The shocking discovery that A Fu was actually Steward Fu had stripped away her patience for subtlety. She reached out, took the lantern from a servant, and held it up beside Prince Kang's face.

The servant stared at his empty hand, dumbfounded.

Prince Kang: "..." His so-called goddaughter was possessed!

"A Heng, what's gotten into you?"

If she was going crazy, could she please keep her distance...

Unfortunately, everyone knew the Prince Kang manor had lost its influence, while Xue Han had become a favorite of the new emperor. Prince Kang could only suppress his irritation.

"Godfather, I have a question I'd like to ask you."

Seeing Qiu Heng's serious expression, Prince Kang gestured for the servant to move farther away.

"Go ahead, what question?"

Could it be that she had learned something about the new emperor's movements or stance through Xue Han?

"How old are you this year?"

"Cough, cough, cough—" Prince Kang, who had been prepared for a weighty discussion, was choked by his own saliva and burst into violent coughing, causing the servant who had walked away to glance back frequently.

Qiu Heng held up the lantern, waiting patiently for Prince Kang to stop coughing.

Prince Kang coughed until tears streamed from the corners of his eyes, caught between laughter and tears: "A Heng, this is what you wanted to ask?"

What kind of question was that?

Looking at the young girl's earnest expression, Prince Kang finally said: "I am forty-five."

Forty-five—Qiu Heng quickly calculated and shook her head slightly.

It still doesn't match.

It's not just the age that doesn't match; even the feeling he gives her is off.

She had lived with her master for ten years. Aside from appearances, her master gave her a sense of being all-powerful, calm, and mysterious. But the Prince Kang before her, no matter how she looked at him, didn't seem very bright.

Having eliminated the possibility that Prince Kang was her master, Qiu Heng said calmly: "You really look young for your age, Foster Father."

Prince Kang's expression twisted for a moment, and he didn't know what to say.

"I came to see Foster Brother. Is he home?"

"Yes, he is. Go find him quickly."

"Then I won't disturb you, Foster Father." Qiu Heng bobbed a curtsy, walked over to the stunned servant, and shoved the lantern back into his hand.

Only after Qiu Heng had walked away did the servant call out "Your Highness" in a conflicted tone.

Prince Kang quickly went to the front courtyard and ordered a servant to tell Princess Kang that he wouldn't be returning to the main courtyard for dinner.

Qiu Heng first went to pay her respects to Princess Kang.

"I heard about Foster Brother's matter and came to see him."

Princess Kang was deeply moved: "I've long known that you're a loyal and caring person. Having a sister like you is Yun'er's blessing."

Qiu Heng exchanged a few pleasantries and then, accompanied by a maid, went to Ling Yun's residence.

It wasn't yet fully dark, but the lanterns under the eaves were already lit, casting a hazy glow over the courtyard that mirrored the evening sky.

The person she was eager to see was sitting in the courtyard, lost in thought.

"Brother Ling."

Qiu Heng called out and ran over, hiking up her skirt.

"Why are you here at this hour, A Heng?" Ling Yun stood up, his face a mix of surprise and concern. "Has something happened?"

Qiu Heng stared at him intently, her emotions in turmoil.

"A Heng?"

Qiu Heng didn't answer. She stared at the ethereal young man, but in her mind, the face of Master Changqing surfaced.

What would Brother Ling look like at a hundred?

His face was stunningly beautiful, unrivaled in the world.

It took her breath away and left her intoxicated, yet it was hard to imagine what such a face would look like in old age.

Her master, over a hundred years old, was far too old—his skin sagging and wrinkles piling up, obscuring his underlying features.

"Brother Ling, have you ever met Master Changqing?"

Ling Yun paused, then smiled, and asked: "Is he the same Master Changqing you've always been looking for, A Heng?"

"Yes."

"No, Brother hasn't met him. If I had, I would have told you."

"Brother Ling."

Ling Yun waited patiently for her to go on.

"Brother Ling, I can't explain it, but I feel you look a bit like Master Changqing." Qiu Heng tested the waters as she spoke.