Chapter 206 Qiao Yuanyao Gets Involved with Li Sanqi
Madam Min Qiao was unaware that Li Sanqi had suffered immense injustice at the hands of the Crown Prince in order to stand up for her. She was also unaware that the conflict between the imperial family and their son had escalated to the point of open hostility over her matter.
Because of the banquet's failure, the idea of showing Qiao Yuanyao a chance was nipped in the bud.
Min Qiaoshi felt quite guilty, but Qiao Yuanyao and Zhou Shi didn't take it to heart and even comforted her instead.
Min Qiao was finally somewhat relieved.
However, the next day, when news spread that Li Sanqi had made a grand gesture by bringing gifts to apologize to the Crown Princess and even prepared lavish gifts to apologize to the Wu family, Madam Min Qiao was completely distraught.
Especially when Madam Zheng kindly reminded him, "I'm afraid your hot spring estate is doomed to fail."
"If you don't want to benefit the Wu family, it's best to find someone willing to take it over and sell it before they come knocking again."
Min Qiao was in a bad mood. "Why is it so hard for me to live a peaceful life?"
Madam Zheng was also helpless. "Stop talking nonsense. Let's think about what to do with your estate."
Min Qiao was filled with resentment, and couldn't help but utter harsh words: "Even if I blow up that hot spring with a bucket of gunpowder, I will never let the Wu family benefit from it!"
Madam Zheng glared at Min Qiaoshi with annoyance. "Alright, stop talking such useless things. Think about who would dare to take over your estate now. Before the Wu family comes knocking, hurry up and sell the estate. Selling it will at least bring back some money. Don't be foolish and really ruin the estate."
Madam Min sighed; she was well aware of this truth. That hot spring estate was not only the culmination of Wei Jia's and her own efforts, but also the embodiment of the children's future and prospects.
It all started with Aqi trying to find ways for the children to earn money and support themselves. Then, she discovered the hot springs and built a high-end hot spring resort that combined leisure, entertainment, and wellness. After she meticulously planned the roles that the children could play once the resort was built, she continued to work on it.
Everything is actually for the purpose of giving children an opportunity to support themselves.
Although Wei Jia said the villa was meant to provide her with a place to network, Min Qiao Shi didn't actually need it that much.
Would someone who has become indifferent to life and death still care about connections?
Madam Min smiled bitterly, "With the Crown Prince protecting the Wu family, who would dare to take over my estate?"
After pondering for a long time, Madam Zheng suggested, "The Marquis of Yongchang's residence?"
"You mean the Empress's family?"
Madam Min Qiao considered the possibility carefully, but still questioned, "The Yongchang Marquis's mansion suffered losses when it clashed with the Wu family before. Would they dare to take over?"
How will you know if you don't try?
Madam Zheng said softly, "The Empress made some concessions before because of the Crown Princess's unborn child. But this time she just watched the Seventh Princess suffer such a great injustice."
"How long do you think Her Majesty the Empress can tolerate the Crown Princess?"
Madam Min thought about it and agreed that it made sense.
The Crown Prince hasn't even ascended the throne yet, and the Crown Princess hasn't even become Empress, and the Wu family dares to disregard the Empress's family. Do they really think the Yongchang Marquis's mansion is easy to bully?
After much deliberation, Madam Min Qiao finally decided to sell the hot spring estate, along with several hundred acres of farmland in the suburbs of Beijing, to the Yongchang Marquis's mansion before the Wu family came knocking.
It was inappropriate for Madam Min Qiao to personally visit in this matter. Therefore, she sent Wei Jia instead.
Of course, there was a ready-made reason for Wei Jia to come.
The Dowager Lady of the Yongchang Marquis's Mansion is celebrating her 60th birthday next month. Wei Jia, representing Madam Min Qiao, went to request invitations.
Min Qiaoshi is worried about selling her estate.
Meanwhile, Qiao Yuanyao had already made contact with Li Sanqi through the bracelet on her wrist.
Of course, Li Sanqi would not leave the palace just because of Qiao Yuanyao.
Therefore, she only sent her personal maid to the palace gate to inquire why Qiao Yuanyao wanted to see her.
Qiao Yuanyao handed a rectangular box she was holding to the female official, saying, "It's just a painting I drew. Please give it to the Seventh Princess."
As he spoke, he secretly slipped a purse containing fifty taels of silver into the maid's hand, and then lowered his voice to say, "Please trouble you, maid, to pass on a message to the Seventh Princess and ask her if she wants to vent her anger."
A hint of surprise flashed in the official's eyes, but she quickly concealed it.
She stuffed the purse into her sleeve pocket and said in a relatively gentle tone, "I will deliver the message, but I cannot guarantee whether the Seventh Princess will be willing to see you."
Qiao Yuanyao smiled and agreed repeatedly, "It's all up to the princess's wishes."
The female official returned and handed the painting to Li Sanqi, then repeated Qiao Yuanyao's words.
Li Sanqi didn't say anything, but opened the wooden box and took out the painting to look at.
She was initially quite annoyed when she heard a message at the palace gate that Qiao Yuanyao, the niece of the Lady Qiao of the Xuanping Marquis's residence, wanted to see her.
She had just apologized to the Crown Princess and the Wu family, and was seething with anger, with nowhere to vent it. Qiao Yuanyao, oblivious to the proper boundaries, came to see her.
Who does she think she is?
Just because he gave her a few kind words at the banquet that day, she thought she could take advantage of the situation to climb up to him?
Li Sanqi felt utterly contemptuous of Qiao Yuanyao's attempt to curry favor with the powerful.
So, she had no intention of seeing anyone at all.
If it weren't for Madam Min's sake, she wouldn't have sent anyone to the palace gate.
Li Sanqi had already concluded that Qiao Yuanyao was trying to curry favor with her, so she was quite disdainful of the painting Qiao Yuanyao presented to her.
If it weren't for the lady-in-waiting's kind words, she wouldn't have even opened Qiao Yuanyao's painting.
However, when she saw Qiao Yuanyao's painting, Li Sanqi was immediately amazed.
Upon seeing the signature "Hibiscus Gentleman" at the end, Li Sanqi was so shocked that his mouth dropped open.
This person is a renowned painter who suddenly became famous two months ago.
It appeared out of nowhere and became inexplicably popular. A painting that was originally priced at twenty taels of silver was directly sold for a sky-high price of one thousand taels of silver.
Now, it's even harder to find a painting like this.
The key point is that Furong Junzi is mysterious and unpredictable; no one knows who he really is.
At this moment, looking at the painting in his hand, Li Sanqi was shocked.
Could it be that the popular "Lotus Gentleman" who has been so admired lately, and even her fifth brother praised him highly, is actually Qiao Yuanyao?
Shocked, Li Sanqi also became curious about Qiao Yuanyao's "venting his anger".
The next day, Qiao Yuanyao was able to enter the palace and meet Li Sanqi as she wished.
"This humble woman, Qiao Yuanyao, greets the Seventh Princess." Qiao Yuanyao greeted her respectfully.
Li Sanqi raised his hand to signal someone to stand up, "So you're the Hibiscus Gentleman?"
Qiao Yuanyao nodded: "That's right, I am."
"You said you could help me vent my anger?" Li Sanqi looked at Qiao Yuanyao with amusement. "Do you know what grievances I have?"
Qiao Yuanyao smiled, but instead of answering directly, she got straight to the point: "If you want to punish the Wu family, you must bring down the Crown Princess."
"To bring down the Crown Princess, we must make her fall out of favor with the Crown Prince."
"Without the Crown Prince's protection, the Crown Princess and the Wu family are nothing but a minor ailment."
Li Sanqi rolled his eyes. "Do you even need to tell me?"
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