Chapter 5: Contempt

During the ten years Qiu Heng spent in the Great Xia of thirty years later, she grew very fond of reading—official histories, unofficial records, and even folk tales.

She didn't care for the truths or stories that had actually transpired; rather, in the countless days she spent missing her parents, she desperately tried to find Yunfeng Village within those stacks of paper, hoping to find the couple who had made their living gathering and crafting incense.

It was a pity that ordinary folk like her parents would never be recorded. What she read instead was the rot beneath the flourishing flowers of the Great Xia, the pallor beneath the brocade robes, and the ugliness beneath the boundless elegance.

Among the imperial relatives, nobles, civil officials, and military generals, the Earl of Yongqing was originally unremarkable, yet he left his name in history for selling his granddaughter to seek glory.

In the Great Xia, some titles were not hereditary in perpetuity; they would be abolished upon the death of the final generation unless the Emperor bestowed grace to extend them for one more. The Earl of Yongqing’s manor faced such a predicament. To ensure his title would be passed down, the Earl fawned over the all-powerful Chancellor Fang Yuanzhi, going so far as to send a granddaughter to be a concubine to the Chancellor’s grandson.

When she discovered from Mama Wang that the Qiu family was indeed the one recorded in the books, she knew this was where she was meant to be.

Her teacher had said, "When a nation is about to fall, monsters will surely emerge." When the capital of Great Xia fell and the child emperor was forced to flee south, there were five people whose crimes were unforgivable. These five were the monsters she needed to eradicate.

If she could succeed within five years, the Great Xia might have a chance at salvation. If she failed, what she—and millions of Xia people—would experience was the bloody, chaotic era she had come from.

Chancellor Fang Yuanzhi was one of her targets.

"So this is Heng'er?" The Earl of Yongqing looked Qiu Heng over, a satisfied smile on his face.

The younger generation of the Qiu family had few boys and many girls, and the beauty of the Qiu daughters was somewhat famous in the capital.

"Greetings, Grandfather."

The Earl asked a few questions, then the Old Madam ordered a maid to lead Qiu Heng away to get settled. The others dispersed, leaving only Steward Qiu behind.

"I thought you said she was just from an ordinary farming family? Why does she have a maid?" The Old Madam asked Fangzhou while holding a teacup.

"The Sixth Young Lady was grieving the passing of her foster parents, and I didn't dare ask..." Steward Qiu recounted how Qiu Heng had gone to the mountain to guard the grave every single day.

After Steward Qiu withdrew, the Old Madam’s face turned cold. "How truly unlucky."

The Earl, however, chuckled. "She’s already been brought back, so let’s not speak of the past."

"If it weren't for the Marchioness of Changchun—" The Old Madam swallowed the rest of her words.

She did not look forward to this granddaughter’s return.

Ten years ago, the girl had gone missing while out at a lantern festival with her youngest son. Her youngest daughter-in-law, Madam Du, had been pregnant at the time; she was so heartbroken that she went into premature labor and passed away shortly after. Since then, the Old Madam had been left with a son who was drunk all day and a sickly grandson.

Not long ago, the Marchioness of Changchun, who had returned to the capital, invited her for tea and mentioned that while passing through Suiyun County, she had met a young girl who looked exactly like Madam Du. She wondered if it might be the Sixth Young Lady who had gone missing from the Earl of Yongqing’s manor years ago.

The disappearance of the Sixth Girl had caused quite a stir in the capital back then. Now that the Marchioness had kindly offered a reminder, it would invite gossip if the Earl’s manor showed no reaction.

While the Old Madam and the Earl chatted about Qiu Heng, the sisters Qiu Fu and Qiu Ying, who had left Qiansong Hall, were also discussing her.

The garden was a riot of color in the third month. The Fifth Young Lady, Qiu Ying, twirled the colorful cord of her sachet around her finger, smiling brightly. "I didn't expect the Sixth Sister to be so pretty."

The Fourth Young Lady, Qiu Fu, paused in her tracks.

The Third Young Lady, Qiu Yun, curled her lip. "Fifth Sister, you’re just looking for novelty. When it comes to looks, who could be more outstanding than Fourth Sister?"

"Enough, there’s nothing to compare here." Qiu Fu glanced at the sachet Qiu Ying was fiddling with and tossed the one Qiu Heng had given her into the flowerbed. "Such a crude trinket; it’s a wonder you find it precious, Fifth Sister."

Qiu Ying sheepishly put her sachet away. "Just playing with something new, that's all."

The Second Young Lady, Qiu Xuan, returned to her boudoir and took out her sachet to sniff it lightly.

"Does the Young Lady like the sachet the Sixth Young Lady gave you?" the maid asked with a smile.

Qiu Xuan lowered her eyes, looking at the plain fabric of the sachet, thoughtful. "The fragrance is actually quite unique and pleasant."

Qiu Heng met Qiu Feng while she was organizing her trunks.

The Earl of Yongqing had three grandsons. The eldest, Qiu Yang, was from the second branch and was sixteen, currently studying at the Imperial Academy. The second grandson, Qiu Feng, was eleven—her biological younger brother. Qiu Song had just turned ten, and Mama Wang had specifically warned her that the Third Young Master was the only boy of the first branch and was pampered dearly.

Qiu Heng saw Qiu Song first.

The sturdy boy twisted his head, tugging at the person behind him. "What are you dawdling for? Come and see what your sister looks like."

A thin, frail boy stumbled forward, and as he looked up, his eyes met Qiu Heng’s.

*This child is so thin,* Qiu Heng thought.

"So you're the daughter the Third Uncle lost back then?" Qiu Song asked with a tone of curiosity.

Qiu Heng raised an eyebrow. "And you are—"

"My name is Qiu Song. How did you get lost back then?"

"I don't remember."

"You were already five, how could you not remember anything?" The chubby boy leaned in close to Qiu Heng, his tone malicious. "You aren't a fake, are you?"

"Third Brother, don't say that—"

"She hasn't even spoken, why are you in such a rush, Second Brother? Ah, I know! Second Brother is jealous that I and Big Brother both have real sisters, so he's in a hurry to acknowledge a fake from the countryside as his sister!" Qiu Song clapped his hands and laughed.

Qiu Feng’s expression turned awkward, and he pressed his lips together tightly.

"Third Young Master, you are so unruly. Aren't you afraid I'll tell the Old Earl and the Old Madam?"

"You're going to tattle to the elders? Don't you have any shame?"

Qiu Heng chuckled lightly. "It seems the Third Young Master never tattles to the elders himself."

Qiu Song puffed out his chest. "Of course not."

He was always the one bullying others; why would he ever tattle?

"I see." Qiu Heng nodded, then suddenly grabbed Qiu Song, pinned him to the table, and raised her hand to strike his backside hard.

"Wuu-wuu-wuu—" Caught off guard by the pain, Qiu Song let out a shrill cry, but a hand clamped over his mouth, stifling it.

To his horror, he couldn't break free, and he had to endure blows that grew more painful with each strike.

Qiu Feng was even more horrified than Qiu Song.

The already frail boy turned pale, his lips trembling, unable to speak.

Qiu Heng only let go once she had vented her frustration.

"You dare hit me!" Qiu Song jumped up, grimacing in pain.

"Then go tattle. Tell them you had your butt beaten black and blue by a fake from the countryside."

"You—you just wait!" Qiu Song turned and ran off.

The room fell silent.

After a long while, Qiu Feng frowned and said, "You're going to be in trouble."

"Will he go tattle?"

"Whether he does or not, you won't have an easy time after offending the Third Brother." Qiu Feng gave Qiu Heng a deep look and turned to leave.

Fangzhou walked in, rubbing her eyes as she approached Qiu Heng. "Young Lady, I think I just fell asleep standing up. I dreamed you were beating a little fatty."

Qiu Heng patted Fangzhou’s arm. "Don't daydream. I really did hit him."

Fangzhou clutched her forehead, unable to deceive herself any longer. "If the Old Madam and the others find out—"

"Such an embarrassing thing—a brat like that won't go around talking about it."

"What if he does?"

"If he does, we'll deal with it then. No need to worry about it in advance."

Dinner was served at Qiansong Hall. Qiu Heng met the Eldest Master and the Second Master of the Qiu family. As for her biological father, it was said he was drunk and had been carried back; he hadn't sobered up yet.

Qiu Heng ignored the fierce glares Qiu Song kept throwing her way and quietly ate her first meal at the Qiu manor.

The next morning, Qiu Heng followed Mama Wang’s reminder and went to Qiansong Hall to pay her respects, just as the Third Master of the Qiu family came stumbling in.