Do you know: I am Qi Heng

"It's already autumn, but the weather is getting hotter and hotter, which is really abnormal!"

Qi Heng fanned himself with a book, and couldn't help but mutter to himself.

Although it's not yet late autumn, it's noticeably cooler these past few days.

But the weather has been getting warmer these past few days, and I even started sweating on my way to school.

"It'll cool down soon after this heatwave!" Gu Tingye said with a smile.

"Let's hope so!"

Qi Heng prefers it to be cold rather than hot.

When it's cold, you can add clothes and use charcoal fire to keep warm, but when it's hot, you can't go without clothes, right?

Ancient clothing all had long sleeves, and even if it was thin, it was still considered thick compared to clothing in later times.

The weather is hot, which is very difficult to endure.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside, and Sheng Changfeng and Sanlan walked in together.

Qi Heng was somewhat surprised to see Minglan and Rulan arrive so early.

Since he started studying at the Sheng family, Minglan has never arrived this early; she almost always arrives right on time.

"Big brother, Uncle Gu, Brother Yuanruo!" Mo Lan smiled and bowed to the three of them in turn.

After Gu Tingye and the others returned the greetings, she glanced at Minglan with a faint look in her eyes.

Minglan's expression remained unchanged as she smiled and followed Rulan in exchanging greetings.

When they bowed to Qi Heng, they didn't address him as "Young Master" as usual, but instead, together with Ru Lan, said, "Greetings, Brother Yuan Ruo!"

Qi Heng was stunned and looked at Minglan in surprise.

When Minglan saw Qi Heng looking at her, she gave him a slight smile.

Although Qi Heng was completely baffled, he didn't have time to think about it further and returned the greeting with a cupped hand.

Mo Lan saw all of this, her face darkened, and she turned back to her seat.

After class started, Qi Heng was still pondering why Minglan had changed her form of address.

Logically, she changed it because the two were engaged, so she should have changed it yesterday.

But she didn't change it. Instead, after I wrote her a letter reminding her, she suddenly changed how she addressed me.

Suddenly, Qi Heng had a thought, remembering Mo Lan's gloomy expression.

"Could it be that Minglan is trying to provoke Molan?"

Qi Heng thought about it carefully and became more and more convinced of this.

So what is Minglan's purpose? To avenge her mother?

Minglan is probably still unsure, right?

Qi Heng couldn't figure out what Minglan was up to for the time being, but no matter what Minglan's scheme was, she would definitely be wary of Molan's revenge.

Therefore, there is no need to worry about Minglan being schemed against by Lin Xiaoniang and her daughter.

Thinking of this, Qi Heng was no longer worried. When it comes to scheming, even if Lin Xiaoniang and her daughter were combined, they wouldn't be a match for Minglan.

Lin Xiaoniang's only advantage was Sheng Hong, but Minglan was adopted by Empress Cao as her goddaughter, and the Emperor arranged a marriage for them.

Given Sheng Hong's personality, he would never favor Lin Xiaoniang.

Not to mention she still has Old Madam Sheng to rely on.

During the afternoon break, Sheng Changfeng turned to Gu Tingye behind him and said, "Second Brother Gu, tomorrow is the ten-day holiday. How about we go out and have some fun together?"

"Tomorrow won't work. I've been away from the capital for many years, and now that I'm back, I still have a lot of things to take care of," Gu Tingye politely declined.

He has to spend time with Man Niang and her son tomorrow, so he won't have time to go out with Sheng Changfeng.

"That's true, let's talk about it another time!"

Somewhat disappointed, Sheng Changfeng turned his attention to Qi Heng, asking, "Yuan Ruo, are you free tomorrow?"

"I'm going to accompany my mother to the palace tomorrow," Qi Heng said casually.

Upon hearing this, Sheng Changfeng sighed, "Then I'll just have to stay home and read books."

……

After school ended in the afternoon, Gu Tingye did not go to see Manniang. Qi Heng took him home and then returned to his residence.

The next morning, after having breakfast, I went to the palace with my mother.

When Zhao Shou saw Qi Heng, he clung to him as always, but he didn't clamor to go out and play like he usually does.

Qi Heng could only sit aside and listen to his mother and Empress Cao chatting.

About an incense stick's time later, a palace maid came in.

Qi Heng was stunned when he saw the person behind the palace maid.

"This humble woman pays her respects to Your Majesty the Empress!"

Minglan lowered her head and followed the palace maid into the hall, bowing respectfully.

"No need for formalities!"

Empress Cao scolded, "Why have you changed your form of address again?"

"I...I haven't adapted yet, please forgive me, Godmother!" Minglan said quickly.

"No wonder, no wonder!"

Empress Cao smiled and waved, beckoning to Zhao Shou beside Qi Heng, "Shou-ge'er, weren't you clamoring to see your sworn sister? She's here!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Shou toddled over to Minglan with his short legs, looked up at her, and called out, "Sister!"

Minglan was at a loss for what to do, unsure whether to respond or not.

"Shou-ge'er is much older than his sisters and doesn't really like playing with them. Knowing I've taken in a goddaughter, he's been clamoring to see you!"

Empress Cao smiled and said, "You don't need to be so reserved. You are my adopted daughter and also Shou'er's adopted sister. Just treat you like a younger brother!"

"yes!"

Minglan knew she couldn't truly treat Zhao Shou as her own brother, but since Empress Cao had said so, she could only agree.

"Sister, why don't you and Brother Heng come play with me?" Zhao Shou said.

For some reason, he felt a sense of closeness when he saw Minglan.

"Since Shou-ge'er has spoken, you can all leave now and go," Empress Cao said, waving her hand.

"Let's go play!"

Zhao Shou pulled Minglan and was about to turn around when he suddenly remembered something, stopped, crossed his arms, and performed a traditional Chinese greeting: "Mother, your son takes his leave!"

But he's only three years old, and his body hasn't fully developed yet, so his bowing looks rather comical.

Empress Cao was amused and said with a smile, "Go then!"

"Brother Heng, let's go quickly!"

Zhao Shouchao shouted to Qi Heng.

Qi Heng could only stand up, bow, and leave with Zhao Shou.

Although flowers bloom in the Imperial Garden in all four seasons, fewer varieties bloom in autumn.

Zhao Shou did not go to the Imperial Garden, but instead led them to a side hall.

This place has been transformed into a playground for Zhao Shou, and it has all kinds of ancient toys.

Things like Huarong Road puzzles and Luban locks, anything suitable for his age, were all available, and the shelves inside the hall were filled with them.

"Brother Heng, Sister, Father Emperor had several new Luban locks made for me, but I can't solve them. Can you try to unlock them?"

Zhao Shou led the two into the hall and had the eunuch bring the new Luban lock.

"Sit down and play."

A blanket was laid on the ground. Zhao Shou sat down on the blanket, looked up at the two of them, and said.

Qi Heng and Minglan exchanged a glance and could only sit down on the ground.

"Here, let's play together!"

Zhao Shou placed one of the Luban locks into the arms of the two men, and then held one and fiddled with it himself.

Qi Heng remembered playing with this as a child, but this Luban lock was indeed complicated. He fiddled with it for a while but couldn't find the trick.

However, his mind wasn't on the Luban lock. He looked up and saw Minglan fiddling with it, while the eunuchs and maids serving them were some distance away. So he whispered, "Did you receive the letter for Xiaotao?"

Upon hearing this, Minglan looked up at him, then immediately lowered her head and whispered, "I believe you, I've seen it."

"Then why did you go and provoke your fourth sister?" Qi Heng asked.

Minglan remained silent.

Seeing this, Qi Heng said, "Whatever you do, just tell me, and I'll help you!"

"Mmm," Minglan responded almost inaudibly.