Chapter 7: Xue Han

Earl Yongqing stared blankly at the youth in crimson robes.

Wanted to see whom?

The sixth girl?

Could it be... that it was a crime to find a lost granddaughter?

"Earl."

The youth set his teacup down on the side table, the soft clink pulling Earl Yongqing back from his wandering thoughts.

"I wonder why Lord Xue wishes to see my granddaughter? That girl just arrived from the countryside and doesn't know the rules—"

The youth smiled. "The Earl may have heard that foreign spies have been active in the capital recently. Since your granddaughter was suddenly found after being missing for ten years, it is my duty to see her in person to be at ease."

Upon hearing the word "spy," Earl Yongqing’s heart skipped a beat. "Lord Xue is joking."

The youth’s smile vanished. "Whether I am joking or not, I will know once I have seen her."

Earl Yongqing felt stifled with anger, but he dared not refuse further and hurriedly ordered someone to fetch Qiu Heng.

On the way to the front hall, the steward, having received instructions, spoke to Qiu Heng about the youth’s identity: "The one who wishes to see the Sixth Miss is Lord Xue Han, the head of the Imperial City Guard. Although this Lord Xue has not yet reached the age of twenty, his methods are ruthless and unpredictable. The Sixth Miss must be careful with her words and actions."

"Imperial City Envoy Xue Han?"

The steward was surprised. "The Sixth Miss has heard of him?"

"No, I just think the name sounds quite nice."

The steward swayed.

It’s over, it’s over. This girl from the countryside doesn't know how to be careful with her words and actions at all!

Qiu Heng, meanwhile, silently quickened her pace.

In the Great Xia that came later, she often perused books recording this period, and the Imperial City Envoy Xue Han was a figure who could not be ignored.

He was born a beggar and was adopted by the eunuch Xue Quan, known as the "Hidden Prime Minister," thus leaping over the dragon gate. His most famous virtuous deed was being disfigured while entering a sea of fire to save the Crown Prince, and the next record of him was his execution for the murder of Prince Fu.

Why would such a person specifically ask to see her on the second day of her arrival in the capital?

Qiu Heng stepped into the hall and saw the youth sitting opposite Earl Yongqing at a glance.

He was very young, with a clean and cold temperament, completely different from the image she had sketched out from books.

Xue Han also saw the young girl at the doorway, and his indifferent eyes changed slightly.

"Greet Lord Xue."

Qiu Heng curtsied. "Greetings, Grandfather. Greetings, Lord Xue."

"Lord Xue, this is the granddaughter who was just found." Earl Yongqing offered a fawning smile.

The youth stood up and took a step toward Qiu Heng.

Qiu Heng saw a pair of black boots, and then a voice sounded: "Sixth Miss Qiu, there is no need for such formalities."

It was a voice that matched his temperament—clean, clear, and making it difficult to discern his emotions.

Before examining the girl's appearance, Xue Han first noticed her scent.

People of this era loved fragrance; clothes and bedding were scented, and incense was burned while playing the zither or tasting tea. Even if ordinary women could not afford gold or silver jewelry, a sachet was indispensable. In this prosperous and elegant capital, there were few who, like the girl before him, had clothes unstained by fragrance.

Then, his gaze fell upon her face.

He had heard that the women of the Qiu family were outstanding in appearance, so this beauty did not come as a surprise. Xue Han was more interested in the similarities between the girl and the members of the Earl’s household.

The image of the Third Master Qiu flashed through the youth’s mind; there were similarities, but not many.

"Sixth Miss Qiu arrived in the capital yesterday?"

"Yes."

"And you were in the countryside in the south before that?"

"Yes."

Earl Yongqing, who was already on edge, became even more nervous upon hearing this.

The Imperial City Guard was truly terrifying; the girl had only just returned, and it had already reached their ears.

"Sixth Miss Qiu—" The youth’s voice paused slightly. "Before the Earl’s household came to find you, did you know you were not their biological child?"

"I did not."

"But I heard that when Sixth Miss Qiu went missing, you were already five years old. By rights, you should have had some memories."

Qiu Heng could feel that after saying this, the youth’s gaze became more focused, not letting a single change in her expression escape him.

Was the Imperial City Guard so diligent about catching spies?

"My foster mother said that when she found me, I had been badly frightened." Qiu Heng answered every question asked.

"Is that so." The youth’s gaze moved downward. "Trouble yourself to extend your hand, Sixth Miss Qiu."

A pair of jade-white hands were extended, fingers slender, without the calluses left by labor or martial arts, save for a small mole beside the web of her right hand.

The youth stared at these hands without blinking.

Earl Yongqing held his teacup, forgetting to drink and forgetting to put it down.

"Sixth Miss Qiu... must have been treated well by your foster parents."

As the youth curled his lips to say this, the tense atmosphere in the room relaxed.

Qiu Heng met the youth’s eyes and said slowly, "Lord Xue is right; my foster parents treated me as their own."

Xue Han looked at Earl Yongqing and nodded slightly. "I have disturbed you. It is my duty, and I hope the Earl will not take offense."

"How could I. Then, my granddaughter—"

"The Earl has found a granddaughter who had been missing for many years; a family reunion is a joyous occasion." Xue Han bowed.

Only then did Earl Yongqing set his mind at ease. After politely seeing the man off, he was invited to the Qiansong Hall by someone sent by the Old Madam.

The Old Madam was restless, and upon seeing Earl Yongqing, she asked impatiently, "Earl, what did the people from the Imperial City Guard come for?"

"They heard we found the sixth girl and came to rule out the suspicion of her being a spy." In front of his wife, Earl Yongqing no longer hid his annoyance.

If this were the household of Minister Fang or Commander-in-Chief Han, would the Imperial City Guard be so imposing as to show up like this? It was nothing more than bullying the Earl’s household for its lack of power.

The Old Madam was stunned. "She just returned, and the Imperial City Guard already knows?"

"It might be because you took the sixth girl to the Changchun Marquis’s mansion today, and there was an accident on the street, so it reached the ears of the Imperial City Guard."

"I said this girl was bad luck, yet you always speak up for her."

The next day, when Qiu Heng came to Qiansong Hall to pay her respects, the Old Madam said, "The Earl’s household is very different from the countryside. You should focus on learning the rules and etiquette first; there is no need to come pay respects for now. Nanny Zhu—"

A woman stepped forward. "This servant is here."

"The Sixth Miss is in your hands."

"Yes."

"You may all disperse."

On the way back, the Fifth Miss, Qiu Ying, glanced at Qiu Heng, who was some distance ahead, and said with sympathy, "Nanny Zhu is the strictest; I fear the Sixth Sister will have a hard time."

The Fourth Miss, Qiu Fu, glanced at her sideways. "You’re the only one who loves to worry. She came from the countryside; if she doesn't learn the rules well, it will be the Earl’s household that loses face when we go out together in the future."

"Fourth Sister is right." Qiu Ying wisely said nothing more.

Although there was a distance between them, Qiu Heng heard this conversation clearly.

Was Nanny Zhu very strict?

The young girl swept a glance at the woman walking beside her, frowning slightly.

She had no time to waste on learning rules.

And Nanny Zhu soon revealed the aura of a governess: "For a noble lady, every gesture, standing, sitting, and lying down has its requirements. Sixth Miss, walk a distance first so this servant can see."

There were too many things to comment on regarding posture, gait, and stride length; this first lesson had to leave a deep impression on the Sixth Miss.

Qiu Heng nodded and walked gracefully for a distance.

"Sit, Sixth Miss."

"Lie down, Sixth Miss."

"Rise, Sixth Miss."

...

Nanny Zhu was dumbfounded, unable to believe it.

Qiu Heng asked gently, "Does it meet Nanny Zhu’s requirements?"

Nanny Zhu suppressed her shock and said sternly, "The Sixth Miss has some foundation, but you still need to strive for perfection to live up to the Old Madam’s expectations. How about this: Sixth Miss, stand for an hour first to solidify your standing posture."

A coldness appeared in the depths of Qiu Heng’s eyes.

So, teaching her etiquette and rules was secondary; giving her a show of force was the main point.