Chapter 350 Mrs. Min is Dead
By the time all the boxes were brought in, the flower hall was already packed to the brim, with barely any room to step.
At Madam Wu's command, a maidservant stepped forward and quietly opened the boxes one by one.
Porcelain and jade carvings, gold and silver jewelry, calligraphy and paintings by famous artists, more than a dozen chests of silk and satin crammed full, as well as shops in the south of the city and estates in Linjing Prefecture...
The dazzling array of dowry left everyone speechless.
Everyone knew that Min Qiao was rich, but no one expected her to be this rich.
These things, if added together, must be worth at least fifty thousand taels, right?
Seeing the stunned Liu family members, Wu finally raised her chin proudly.
Just as she was about to stomp on the Liu family members, Min Yuexi pulled her back again.
At this moment, they no longer needed to say anything.
The Liu family members glanced awkwardly at the newly delivered dowry, then hurriedly took their leave.
Watching the Liu family members flee in disarray, Wu felt as if all the anger that had been building up inside her had finally been released.
With the additions to Min Qiao's dowry, Min Yuexi's dowry now totals eighty-eight taels.
All the outdated satin and cotton quilts used to fill boxes were cleared out.
Finally, two days later, Min Yuexi, with her dowry, married into the Qi Prince's mansion in a grand and glorious manner.
Yes, the Third Prince has been granted the title of King. He has received a full title.
He was the first among all the princes to be granted the title of king.
On the surface, the Third Prince was granted the title of Prince simply because he got married and had his own mansion.
In fact, everyone knew perfectly well that this was a signal being sent by Emperor Xiaozhao.
The Crown Prince married a woman from the Zhong family last month, and the Third Prince's wedding, originally scheduled for autumn, was moved up to April. In addition to moving the wedding date forward, he was also granted the title of Prince.
If this still doesn't explain anything, then consider that Emperor Xiaozhao made no gesture at all for the Crown Prince's wedding, except for the Empress who sent a set of ruby jewelry in her own name.
However, when it came to the Third Prince's wedding, Emperor Xiaozhao bestowed lavish gifts, and the imperial harem also sent congratulatory presents. Even the Empress sent a pair of jade ruyi scepters.
Well, the differential treatment shouldn't be too obvious.
***
The turmoil in the capital city naturally has no effect on Huizhou.
As Min Yuexi married the Third Prince and became the Princess Consort of Qi, beginning to face her own trials, Min Qiaoshi also encountered her first real test since arriving in Huizhou.
Fourth Madam Min is dead.
The person who publicly slandered Min Qiaoshi in the Min family killed Min's personal maid, Madam Zhao, the fourth wife of Min.
After returning from the Min family that day, Madam Min Qiao waited for an explanation from the Min family.
Within three days, the Min family indeed sent Madam Min, along with Zhao, a member of a collateral branch, to visit and apologize with generous gifts.
He then made Zhao admit in public that the maid's death had nothing to do with Min Qiao Shi, but that the maid had committed suicide because she was afraid of offending a powerful figure and that it would implicate her mistress.
The apology was made in a grand and respectful manner, giving Madam Min ample face. Gifts were prepared, showing great sincerity. The cause of the maid's death was also explained in a reasonable and plausible way.
The matter has come to a satisfactory conclusion. Madam Min Qiao did not intend to pursue the matter further.
However, a few days later, a branch of the Min family hung white mourning clothes and news of Zhao's death spread, with the blame pointing directly at Min Qiao.
It is said that Zhao fell ill after returning from the Qiao residence, but she refused to take medicine or eat. Within a few days, she tormented herself to death.
In the days before her death, Zhao kept repeating that she felt sorry for her deceased maid, as if she was still burdened by unresolved grief.
This news immediately thrust Min Qiaoshi into the eye of the storm.
Someone said, "So it turns out that Zhao's maid was actually killed by Min Qiao's people!"
Some people said, "She beat someone to death and then forced the victim to apologize in public. This Min Qiao Shi is truly a master at turning black into white, as expected of someone from the capital!"
Some people said, "Sigh, we're all from the Min family, so why are the Min family members in Huizhou so low-key? Over the years, I've never heard of any Min family member from the local area bullying others."
"How come this Min Qiaoshi has caused so much trouble as soon as she arrived in Huizhou from the capital?"
Some people said, "It's not just the Min family; the Jiang family has also been thrown into chaos by Min Qiao's machinations. She's sowing discord, causing the sisters to fall out and the mother and daughter to drift apart. It's truly... tsk tsk!"
For a time, Min Qiaoshi's reputation in Huizhou City was extremely bad.
The calls for the Min family to expel Min Qiaoshi are growing louder.
Despite the fierce condemnation, Madam Min Qiao did not take it to heart and even had the leisure to watch Min Pan'er dance lightly in the wind.
As the dance ended, Madam Min Qiao couldn't help but clap and cheer. Such a beauty, such dance moves—the nobleman the Min family had been trying to curry favor with hadn't even had a chance to appreciate them, yet she had already stolen the show.
"Come over and rest, have some water. You must be tired."
In the garden, under the pavilion, Madam Min Qiao waved to Min Pan'er.
Min Pan'er lifted her skirt and gracefully walked into the pavilion.
"Grandma, how did I do?"
"It's absolutely beautiful! Not to mention men, even I, an old woman, can't take my eyes off it," Madam Min Qiao praised sincerely.
Min Pan'er asked cautiously, "Does the old lady like watching me dance?"
Madam Min nodded, "Of course I like it!"
“Then I’ll dance for the old lady for the rest of my life, okay?” Min Pan’er looked at Min Qiao Shi with anticipation.
During her stay at the Qiao residence, she witnessed the extraordinary qualities of the Qiao family's maids.
They also had to work, but no matter what kind of work the maids did, they always had smiles on their faces.
In them, Min Pan'er felt ease, joy, carefree spirit, and vigorous vitality.
No need to worry about tomorrow, let alone the future. As long as you do your job well, everything else is not a problem.
If the initial offer to become Min Qiao's maid was merely an attempt to escape an unknown fate.
From the moment she entered the Qiao residence, she truly didn't want to leave.
So she painstakingly found out what Min Qiaoshi liked and began to try her best to present herself to her in the way Min Qiaoshi preferred.
"Grandma, I can also sing and play the piano. If you're bored, I'll play the piano and sing for you, okay?"
Min Pan'er squatted at Min Qiao's feet, looking up at Min Qiao with a pitiful and delicate appearance.
"Grandma, please let me stay. Even if you only keep me as a pet or a bird, I'll be happy."
Madam Min Qiao reached out and touched Min Pan'er's cheek, feeling somewhat reluctant.
But she still shook her head. "I don't know why the Min family hasn't taken you back yet. But I know they won't let you go easily."
I can't keep you here.
Of course, she had no reason to keep Min Pan'er.
They were just strangers who met by chance, and had no connection whatsoever. There was really no need for her to turn against the Min family for Min Pan'er's sake.
"old lady……"
Just as Min Pan'er was about to say something more, a sudden voice interrupted.
"Min Pan'er, you're bothering the old lady again, aren't you?"
Jiang Hongling has arrived.
From a great distance, Jiang Hongling shouted loudly, "You know the old lady can't keep you, so why are you still making things difficult for her?"
Jiang Hongling strode into the pavilion, grabbed Min Pan'er, and threw her onto a stool.
"Do you know how much pressure the old lady has endured for your sake?"
Upon hearing this, both Min Pan'er and Min Qiao were stunned.
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