Chapter 471 Heads Rolling, Blood Flowing Like Rivers
"What were you saying to Zhuxi outside just now? Is there something you're hiding from me?"
She heard Ashuang talking to Zhuxi, but Ashuang was speaking in a low voice, and with the sound of the wheels rolling, she couldn't really hear what they were saying. So she asked out of curiosity.
Ah Shuang hesitated for a moment, but still told the truth: "Grandma, I wonder where you found this expert, Zhu Xi?"
Qiao Qinghe was taken aback. "Why did you suddenly ask that?"
Ah Shuang frowned. "I think she doesn't care about your safety at all. And her loyalty to you is far less than Zhen Huan's."
Qiao Qinghe twitched her lips, and couldn't help but think to herself, "Zhu Xi is Emperor Xiaozhao's person. If she is really as loyal to me as Zhen Huan is, what will Emperor Xiaozhao think?"
She wanted to live a few more years! At the very least, she wanted to expose Min Ji and his accomplices, and watch their conspiracy be exposed and their lives end, so that she wouldn't die with regrets.
Seeing that Qiao Qinghe didn't speak, A Shuang couldn't help but persuade her again: "Grandma, there were quite a few nice girls among the people who were with Huanzhen and Wenxiu back then. Why don't we pick one from among them?"
Qiao Qinghe knew about A Shuang's concerns, but she still refused.
Not to mention that even though Zhen Huan and Wen Xiu are already the most outstanding among them, their skills are still insufficient to deal with the dangers they are about to face.
Even if she really wanted to choose from these people, she probably wouldn't be able to.
Because most of the truly promising talents have already found a place to go.
Min Yuexi had two people by her side, Feng Yuerou had one, Su Rongrong had one, and even the Crown Princess had two people sent to her side through Min Yuexi.
The rest of the people also went their separate ways.
Now, the only ones left to choose from are a few young maids who stayed at the hot spring resort on the outskirts of the city to serve.
"I understand your concerns," Qiao Qinghe patted A Shuang's hand reassuringly. "However, I believe Zhu Xi will protect me."
"Right, Zhuxi?"
Qiao Qinghe raised her voice and shouted towards Zhu Xi, who was driving the car.
She knew that with Zhu Xi's abilities, he had definitely heard every word she and A Shuang said.
She asked that question on purpose so that Zhuxi wouldn't feel resentful towards Ashuang.
This also serves as a reminder to A Shuang that Zhu Xi is a capable person, and that she should not speak ill of others behind their backs out of arrogance.
Soon, Zhu Xi's calm reply came from outside the car: "Don't worry, Madam, I will protect you!"
Upon hearing Zhu Xi's response, a hint of embarrassment flashed across A Shuang's face.
The carriage carried Qiao Qinghe towards the southern city.
Meanwhile, news of the incident at the Dali Temple had already been received within the imperial palace.
"What kind of work is this? You finally managed to slip up, and then someone died?"
Emperor Xiaozhao was furious. "Furthermore, has the situation of that jailer been investigated? I want to know who is so audacious as to extend their reach right under my nose."
Liu Xin quickly and cautiously replied, "That jailer is an old man who has been in the force for over ten years. He has a clean family background, with his elderly mother, wife, and children still alive. Even his job as a jailer was passed down from generation to generation. So far, we haven't found anything amiss."
"Investigate! Investigate thoroughly! I refuse to believe that an ordinary prison guard could suddenly become a highly skilled Deadpool!"
Emperor Xiaozhao snorted coldly, "I said that these days, no suspicious people have approached Min Rong in the prison. It turns out that they have been dealing with Min Rong every day and just playing you fools!"
Liu Xin wiped his sweat. Who would have thought that a seemingly insignificant prison guard with an impeccable family background could hide his true abilities so well!
Emperor Xiaozhao calmed himself down and then remembered something else: "Didn't Min Rong say before he died that Min Ji disguised himself as an acquaintance that both he and Old Madam Qiao knew when he met him?"
"Yes." Liu Xin breathed a sigh of relief and quickly replied, "This is what Min Rong told Madam Qinghe himself. He said that he saw through Min Ji's disguise at a glance and recognized Min Ji himself."
"However, who that acquaintance was? Yi San was chasing after the jailer at the time, and Min Rong was speaking too quietly, so he didn't hear it."
Emperor Xiaozhao frowned. "What did Old Madam Qiao say? Did she reveal who that person is?"
"We haven't received any news from Yisan yet."
"Have Yi San find out the truth as soon as possible."
"yes."
Emperor Xiaozhao tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "So, is Min Ji good at pretending, or bad at not pretending?"
If he wasn't good at it, how could he dare to openly disguise himself as someone else to meet Min Rong?
If he were skilled, how could he have been recognized by Min Rong the moment they met?
Not daring to let his words fall flat, Liu Xin carefully considered his words before speaking, saying, "That depends on who you're pretending in front of."
"In my opinion, Min Ji is probably very good at disguising himself. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to escape from under the nose of the Crown Prince of Da'e before."
"As for Min Ji being seen through by Min Rong at a glance, it's probably because Min Rong knows Min Ji too well."
"It is said that Min Rong grew up by Min Ji's side since childhood. It seems that it is not difficult for him to figure out Min Ji's identity through some subtle and unusual actions of Min Ji."
Emperor Xiaozhao nodded. "In that case, the person who knows Min Ji best right now is Old Lady Qiao. If there is anyone else who can see through the disguise and expose Min Ji, it would be Old Lady Qiao."
"Your Majesty is right."
Emperor Xiaozhao thought for a moment, then said, “Issue my decree to send two more people to Old Madam Qiao’s side.”
"This old servant obeys the order."
Emperor Xiaozhao paused, then asked, "What time is it? Isn't it almost time for the execution of the Min clan?"
Liu Xin glanced at the water clock. "It's almost noon. Counting the time, there's exactly half an hour left before the execution."
"Who was sent to oversee the execution?"
"Your Majesty, the officials supervising today's executions are Minister Zhou of the Ministry of Justice, Minister Wu of the Court of Judicial Review, and Minister Zhang of the Censorate."
"Go, have the Crown Prince, the King of Qi, and the King of Chu all go to the execution site to oversee the execution."
Two are too ambitious, and one is too unambitious; it's good to let them both see blood.
"This old servant obeys."
***
When Qiao Qinghe returned to Nancheng, everything in the mansion was ready, just waiting for her to return and preside over the ancestral worship ceremony.
Qiao Qinghe had the Qiao Family Ancestral Hall built in her mansion. The ancestral hall only enshrined two memorial tablets, which were those of Qiao Qinghe's grandparents.
There was nothing she could do; her parents were still alive.
As for the ancestors of the Qiao family, they are worshipped by the descendants of the Qiao family.
She only needs to worship her most beloved grandfather.
The ancestral tablets are in place, and so are the filial sons and virtuous grandsons.
After the sacrificial ceremony was completed, the family genealogy was opened, and the list of people she had prepared beforehand was written down. Then, the ancestors were kowtowed to again, and the ceremony was completed.
Qiao Qinghe looked at the empty ancestral hall and thought that Qiao Jingyuan's memorial tablet should be placed there after Wei Jia and the others returned to the capital.
The Qiao family's newly compiled genealogy is not exactly a joyous occasion, but it is peaceful and serene.
At the execution ground, the Min family was in disarray, with heads rolling and blood flowing like a river. The scene was oppressive and heavy, terrifying and horrifying.
Many onlookers couldn't help but close their eyes, and quite a few retreated again and again, eventually unable to bear the strong stench of blood at the execution ground, and left directly.
However, some people in the crowd stared at the corpses of the beheaded Min clan members without even blinking.
"Pan'er, aren't you scared?"
Jiang Hongling covered her own eyes with one hand and tried to cover Min Pan'er's eyes with the other, but Min Pan'er grabbed her wrist.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com