Chapter 594 Who is Min Ji?

"Yes, I know His Majesty wouldn't."

Consort Zhao smiled self-deprecatingly, "Therefore, I only ask that His Majesty spare Lu Ming and leave the last bloodline of the Lu family."

There was already a hint of pleading in his words.

Emperor Xiaozhao no longer wanted to engage in a pointless entanglement with Consort Zhao.

He said coldly, "You can only choose one: Lu Ming or Li Jingyue."

Consort Zhao's pupils suddenly contracted: "Jingyue is also your daughter!"

"Like you said, I never expected her to be born. So, I don't care about her life!"

Emperor Xiaozhao spoke coldly, his face expressionless: "Choose."

Consort Zhao clenched her fists and gritted her teeth. After a long while, she finally said, "I choose Lu Ming."

"If Your Majesty spares Lu Ming, I will reveal Min Ji's whereabouts."

Emperor Xiaozhao chuckled, glanced at the entrance to the bedchamber out of the corner of his eye, and nodded coldly: "Alright."

"Now you can speak. Where is Min Ji?"

Consort Zhao smiled and softly uttered a name: "Liu Wenyan".

Upon hearing this name, Emperor Xiaozhao's face darkened completely.

"Someone come here!"

Liu Xin, who had been waiting outside the door, hurriedly came in.

"By imperial decree, Lu Ming is guilty of participating in the Crown Prince's treason, a crime deserving of unforgivable punishment. He shall be beheaded and his entire family exterminated!"

"Get it done immediately!"

"This old servant obeys the order."

Liu Xin jogged out the door.

Behind her came Consort Zhao's hoarse roar: "Come back! No!...Your Majesty, you promised me you would release Lu Ming! How could you go back on your word?"

Emperor Xiaozhao's eyes were filled with murderous intent, and his tone was even colder, "Even at a time like this, you still dare to play tricks on me?"

"Heh, if I hadn't already had Liu Wenyan investigated, I'm afraid I would have been fooled by you."

"His age is just right, the timing of his return to Beijing is sensitive, and coupled with the change in his personality and attitude... he seems like a completely different person. Isn't he the perfect substitute for Min Ji?"

"Unfortunately, he isn't!"

Consort Zhao looked at Emperor Xiaozhao in disbelief, "How is this possible!?"

"The Min Ji I saw that day was clearly Liu Wenyan!"

Emperor Xiaozhao took one last look at the distraught Consort Zhao, then turned and left the palace.

At the entrance, Emperor Xiaozhao encountered Li Jingyue.

"Father." Li Jingyue's eyes were red, clearly from crying.

Emperor Xiaozhao glanced at her indifferently, said nothing, and left.

After Emperor Xiaozhao had gone far away, Li Jingyue stepped into the bedchamber.

When Emperor Xiaozhao left, he instructed the eunuch beside him: "Have someone keep an eye on them and report to me every word that the mother and daughter said."

"Yes." The little eunuch led his men back to make the arrangements.

Emperor Xiaozhao boarded the palanquin, but his mind was still on Consort Zhao's expression and her words.

Judging from her shocked expression at the end, it didn't seem like she was faking it.

So, when did Min Ji ever impersonate Liu Wenyan?

Or was Consort Zhao acting the whole time, just to protect the real Min Ji?

"Send someone to the Qiao residence in the southern city to convey my imperial edict, instructing Lady Qinghe to go to the Dali Temple prison to see Zhao Quan."

***

When the palace staff arrived, Qiao Qinghe was compiling news from the past few days.

Besides Chen San's side, there were also spies planted in various prefectures, and some news also came from the hot spring resort in the suburbs.

From before the Lunar New Year to the Crown Prince's coup on New Year's Eve, and into these days, Emperor Xiaozhao has shown no mercy, slaughtering countless people in the capital.

The messages coming back from each prefecture were different.

But what surprised Qiao Qinghe the most was the news from Zhao Gelao's residence.

Originally cautious and self-centered, Grand Secretary Zhao suddenly sent away several young masters and ladies of his household a few days before the Crown Prince's coup, and even disguised himself and went out several times in the middle of the night.

The news report did not specify where they went.

However, the fact remains that the Crown Prince forced Zhao to abdicate, Zhao was arrested, and the Zhao family was raided.

Qiao Qinghe put down the list filled with information about the Zhao family and picked up a page filled with information about the Liu family.

The Crown Prince's affair did not implicate the Liu family in the slightest.

Originally, the person she suspected most was Old Master Liu.

But perhaps she guessed wrong?

Then there's the Zhong family.

What she couldn't understand the most was how the Zhong family managed to escape unscathed.

She clearly remembered that after Emperor Xiaozhao fell ill, the Crown Prince and his wife returned to the Zhong family.

Afterwards, the Zhong family gathered many ministers and petitioned Emperor Xiaozhao to allow the crown prince to oversee the country.

It is clear that Grandpa Zhong is on the Crown Prince's side.

But why did the Zhong family suddenly change their mind?

Qiao Qinghe unconsciously narrowed her eyes, feeling that Grandpa Zhong's suspicions were growing stronger.

Aside from these messages, what surprised Qiao Qinghe the most was the news from the Yongchang Marquis's residence.

As the maternal family of the Empress and the maternal grandfather's family of the Crown Prince, the Yongchang Marquis's Mansion was visited three times by the Crown Prince before he plotted the rebellion.

No one knows exactly what was said.

But as everyone has seen, the result was the same.

Originally thought to be a useless young master of the Wen family, Wen Jue, turned out to be Emperor Xiaozhao's hidden backup plan and the key to the Crown Prince's failure at the last moment.

Wen Jue's limp was also an act. The key was hidden in his shoes!

Who would have thought that the Yongchang Marquis's Mansion, which had supported Emperor Xiaozhao's ascension to the throne, would be feared by Emperor Xiaozhao and would voluntarily relinquish its military power, gradually fading into obscurity.

At the crucial moment, he actually chose Emperor Xiaozhao and abandoned the crown prince.

This is something many people didn't expect.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Yongchang Marquis's residence will once again be given important responsibilities.

As Qiao Qinghe was lamenting the unpredictability of life, a maid rushed in to report that someone from the palace had arrived.

Qiao Qinghe quickly straightened her clothes and hurried out to greet her.

When she arrived at the front hall and learned that it was an imperial edict from Emperor Xiaozhao, ordering her to visit Grand Secretary Zhao in prison at the Dali Temple, she was completely stunned.

However, she quickly guessed Emperor Xiaozhao's intention.

If there is anyone in this world who most wants to find Min Ji, besides her, it would be Emperor Xiaozhao.

So, Emperor Xiaozhao also suspected Grand Secretary Zhao?

This is to have her confirm whether Grand Secretary Zhao is actually Min Ji in disguise.

Qiao Qinghe went back to her room to change her clothes, gave Wei Jia some instructions, and then went out with Ashuang and Zhuxi.

The Dali Temple had already received the order, and as soon as Qiao Qinghe arrived, someone led her to the prison where Grand Secretary Zhao was being held.

The last time Qiao Qinghe saw Grand Secretary Zhao was two years ago, when she was sued in court by the Earl of Annan and others.

At that time, Grand Secretary Zhao brought his daughter-in-law to the court to testify.

At that time, Grand Secretary Zhao was a rare figure who did not make things difficult for her and was able to remain fair and neutral.

Seeing each other again now feels like a lifetime ago.

In prison, Grand Secretary Zhao was completely listless. He sat on a low bed made of straw, staring blankly at the dark prison ceiling.

The jailer leading the way knocked on the cell door and shouted loudly to Grand Secretary Zhao, "Someone has come to see you."

Grand Secretary Zhao slowly turned his head to look outside the prison gate, seemingly not at all surprised to see Qiao Qinghe.

He gave a slight smirk and said casually, "You've come?"

"You knew I would come?" Qiao Qinghe looked at Grand Secretary Zhao with pity in her eyes.

Seemingly noticing the sympathy in Qiao Qinghe's eyes, Grand Secretary Zhao smiled and said, "I guessed it."

"Did His Majesty send you to confirm whether I am Min Ji?"

Qiao Qinghe looked at Grand Secretary Zhao with some surprise: "You even know this?"

Grand Secretary Zhao smiled wryly: "If I couldn't even guess this, I wouldn't be here right now."

Qiao Qinghe frowned. "What is your relationship with Min Ji? Was your appearance here orchestrated by Min Ji? Isn't it related to the Crown Prince's rebellion?"