Chapter 331 A Heng and Fang Zhou

Chapter 331: Ah Heng and Fangzhou

Hu Si, who was keeping watch by Fangzhou’s side, saw Qiu Heng approaching.

Her hair had fallen out of its bun, and her face was as pale as snow, utterly expressionless—a chilling emptiness.

Hu Si instinctively stepped in front of Fangzhou, facing the girl as she drew near, not knowing what to call her. "Sixth Miss—"

Without a word, Qiu Heng pushed Hu Si aside.

The same clothes, the same figure, the same face.

The person who had grown up with her lay there silently, crushing her last shred of hope.

Tears streamed from the corners of her eyes, the light in her eyes died, leaving only broken darkness. Yet she curled her lips into a bitter, mocking smile.

She should have known—heaven had never favored her.

If it had, it wouldn't have sent her thirty years into the future to witness ten years of a shattered land and a suffering people. If it had, it wouldn't have forced a country girl to bear the heavy burden of saving the nation, nearly breaking her back. If it had, it wouldn't have let her learn of her foster father's death on the very first day she returned after ten grueling years, only to face her foster mother's death right after.

But she hadn't asked for much. Why did it have to take Fangzhou as well?

Fangzhou's name was her choice. Back then, she hadn't read much, but one line from a poem Brother Ling taught her had stuck with her.

"Pluck sweet basil on the fragrant isle."

She had named her Fangzhou, meaning Ah Heng and Fangzhou would always be together.

But in the end, her Fangzhou was dead.

Ah Heng and Fangzhou hadn't stayed together.

The taste of blood rose in her throat. When she opened her mouth, blood gushed out, splattering onto Fangzhou's soaked clothes.

The pink gown, long immersed in water, was stained with blood, like red plum blossoms blooming. But it wasn't beautiful—it only brought on a suffocating despair.

"Ah Heng, don't do this," Xue Han said, holding Qiu Heng tightly, his heart breaking. "Don't do this..."

He held her close, but felt she would shatter at the slightest touch.

Her heart was broken.

He wished he could bear this pain for her, but he was powerless. Just like every time her strange illness flared up and she soaked in water to ease the suffering, he could do nothing to help.

"Ah Heng, you need to pull yourself together. We still have to find out who did this to Fangzhou," Xue Han said, tightening his arms around her.

"Xue Han, help me... help me find out who hurt Fangzhou. I'm so tired. I want to take Fangzhou home."

Qiu Heng pulled free from Xue Han's embrace, lifted Fangzhou onto her back, and began walking toward Earl Yongqing's Manor.

"Miss, let me carry Sister Fangzhou," Qing Luo said, her voice hoarse from crying.

Qiu Heng paid no attention, walking forward step by step, leaving an intermittent trail of wet footprints on the stone path.

"Hu Si, I'm counting on you," Xue Han said, patting Hu Si's shoulder.

Hu Si wiped the corner of his eyes. "Take good care of the sixth miss, sir. Leave the rest to me."

Xue Han nodded and caught up with Qiu Heng.

He knew words would do no good now. All he could do was stay by her side.

Earl Yongqing's Manor came into view.

Qiu Heng stopped with Fangzhou on her back, staring in silence at the manor gates.

This was supposed to be her home, wasn't it? There were family members who cared about profit, but also those who genuinely cared for her.

Where there was genuine affection, that was home. And her home was Fangzhou's home.

As she reached the entrance, darkness swirled before her eyes, and she collapsed.

Noise surrounded her, then silence.

When Qiu Heng woke again, it was nearly evening.

She had a long dream—her parents holding her hands, taking her to buy the little donkey she’d always wanted. But on the way back, she was holding the hand of a chubby little girl, but she was even happier than when she got the donkey.

"Ah Heng, you're awake."

The daze faded from her eyes, and Qiu Heng sat up abruptly.

"Where is Fangzhou?"

Xue Han's eyes were red from lack of sleep, his voice hoarse, "Fangzhou has been moved to the side courtyard."

Qiu Heng got out of bed and ran to the side courtyard.

The main hall there had been arranged as a mourning hall. Qiu Heng walked to the bier and lifted the white silk covering the deceased's face, revealing a pale, swollen face.

Even though the face was distorted from being submerged in water for a day, she couldn't deceive herself into thinking this wasn't Fangzhou.

They knew each other too well.

Just yesterday morning, Fangzhou had made her red bean cakes. Now her Fangzhou lay still on the bier, dressed in burial clothes, covered with a burial quilt.

How could this happen?

Qiu Heng couldn't understand.

Third Master Qiu had been waiting in Lengxiangju since Qiu Heng fainted and followed her to the side courtyard. Seeing her not crying or speaking, he wailed loudly. "Heng'er, if you're hurting, tell your father. Don't bottle it up inside."

Qiu Heng didn't respond.

The old madam arrived, along with Qiu Fu and Qiu Ying. Even the eldest madam, née Zhao, came to put in an appearance when she heard the sixth miss had woken up.

People came and went, until finally only Xue Han was left by Qiu Heng's side.

Night had fully fallen; the candles in the mourning hall cast a ghastly white light.

Qiu Heng knelt there in silence, her eyes empty and hollow—no tears left.

Xue Han's heart ached for her. He put his hands on her shoulders. "Ah Heng, I'm still here. You have me."

Qiu Heng slowly lifted her eyes to look at the man who hadn't slept since the day before. In her vacant eyes, a faint glimmer finally appeared.

"Xue Han," she murmured, "there will be no one to make me red bean cakes ever again."

"There will be, Ah Heng," Xue Han said, pulling her into a hug.

Even if such a thing exists, it wasn't Fang Zhou who did it.

She wanted to cry out, to scream, but it felt like a stone was lodged in her chest, crushing her sanity, which was on the verge of collapse.

She still didn't know who had harmed Fang Zhou.

Xue Han, you go back. Once you've rested, help me find the murderer quickly.

When she first returned home, faced with her adoptive parents' deaths and the heavy responsibilities on her shoulders, she couldn't afford to grieve. She could only grit her teeth and move forward step by step on her own.

But now, the burden has finally been lifted. She can be herself. So let her lean on someone else's shoulder and allow herself to be weak for a while.

"A Heng, don't worry. I will definitely find the person who harmed Fang Zhou."

Xue Han didn't leave. He stayed with Qiu Heng in the funeral hall all night and didn't leave until early morning.

News of Fang Zhou's accident spread. When Princess Rongning heard of it, she rushed over and hugged Qiu Heng tightly.

She knew that at this time, no matter how comforting the words, they would feel hollow. Only time could ease the pain.

Ling Yun and County Princess Jiayi also came to visit.

One by one, acquaintances came to visit Qiu Heng. Seeing her condition, they didn't dare to disturb her for long. After offering some comfort, they left silently.

It wasn't until evening that Xue Han appeared before Qiu Heng.

"A Heng, the person who harmed Fang Zhou… has been found."

Qiu Heng suddenly stood up, grabbed Xue Han's hand, and asked, word by word, "Where is the person?"

"She is being held at my old residence. Should I bring her here?"

"Take me there. I want to go in person."

Along the way, Qiu Heng pressed her lips together tightly and didn't ask Xue Han about the murderer.

She wanted to interrogate the murderer herself!

"A Heng, the person is inside." A flicker of hesitation passed through Xue Han's eyes.

He had already asked all that needed to be asked.

Qiu Heng walked in.

The person trapped in the room heard the noise and turned around in panic. Their gazes locked.

At that moment, to Qiu Heng, it was even more shocking than seeing a demon or monster.

"Yun Xiang!" She rushed over and grabbed Yun Xiang's wrist tightly. "It's you! You again!"