Chapter 361 The Reason for the Seventh Princess's Escape
Madam Min was full of doubts, but seeing Li Sanqi's disheveled appearance, she quickly stopped talking.
Turning to Ah Shuang, he instructed, "Quickly tell the kitchen to prepare hot water and send it to my room. Also, prepare a clean and presentable set of clothes."
"Yes." Ah Shuang accepted the order and went to the kitchen.
Then Madam Min Qiao said to Li Sanqi, "Seventh Princess, let's go to the inner courtyard. Let's wash up and have something to eat first, and then we can talk slowly."
"Grandma!" Li Sanqi cried pitifully, but her beggar's clothes were really an eyesore.
Unable to bear the sight, Madam Min Qiao could only half-embrace Li Sanqi in her arms, trying her best not to look at the disheveled state of Li Sanqi.
She couldn't help it; she was afraid she wouldn't be able to stop herself from laughing.
After leaving the room, Madam Min Qiao whispered to the old woodcutter, "No one else is to know about the Seventh Princess's matter except for those present here."
Old Woodcutter naturally knew that the matter was of great importance, and quickly and solemnly replied, "Yes, I understand."
Madam Min led the people into the inner courtyard and went directly to her bedroom.
Ah Shuang and Wen Xiu personally brought in hot water to serve Li Sanqi's bath. They changed the water three times before Li Sanqi was transformed from a beggar back into a princess.
After I finished showering and changing my clothes, the small kitchen brought in a freshly prepared meal.
Whether it was because he had changed his clothes and regained his respectable appearance, or because he had already eaten something to fill his stomach, Li Sanqi's eating movements were once again elegant, slow, and proper. Neither the clinking of the bowls and chopsticks nor the chewing of food made a sound.
However, despite Li Sanqi's elegant eating movements, he ate quite a lot.
Min Qiaoshi found it both funny and heartbreaking.
Quietly waiting for Li Sanqi to finish three bowls of meat porridge and five side dishes, until he was full and round, he put down his chopsticks and then pulled someone to the courtyard with a lantern to digest his food.
Because of Li Sanqi's arrival, Madam Min Qiao had people guard her main courtyard. Apart from her and Li Sanqi, there were only A Shuang and Wen Xiu serving her in the courtyard.
Well, perhaps we should also add Zhen Huan, who's hiding somewhere.
Min Qiaoshi dragged Li Sanqi around for a while before bringing him back into the house.
After they were seated, Madam Min Qiao began to inquire about Li Sanqi's situation.
It would have been better if he hadn't asked. As soon as he did, Li Sanqi opened his mouth and burst into tears.
Madam Min Qiao was startled and quickly reminded her, "Oh dear, Your Highness, please keep your voice down! It's no small matter for you to sneak in here. Stop howling, or someone will hear you and spread the word, revealing your whereabouts!"
Upon hearing this, Li Sanqi promptly covered his mouth with his hand.
But perhaps because she was too heartbroken, sobs still escaped from between her fingers.
Fortunately, the sound did become much quieter.
Min Qiaoshi then stopped paying attention to her and let her cry and vent her emotions.
About fifteen minutes later, Li Sanqi finally stopped crying.
Madam Min handed over a handkerchief, which Li Sanqi took and used to wipe away the tears on his face. He took a deep breath and finally calmed down.
"Tell me, what's going on with you? Shouldn't you be in the capital? Why are you in Huizhou?"
Madam Min was incredibly curious. Ever since she met Li Sanqi, she had been eager to know the answer. It was already extremely difficult for her to have endured until now.
Upon hearing this, Li Sanqi's emotions, which had just calmed down, began to show signs of collapse again.
Min Qiaoshi's expression changed drastically. Just when she thought Li Sanqi was about to burst into tears again, she saw her simply wipe away her tears, grit her teeth, and say in a resentful voice, "The Earl of Annan recently fought against Xixi and suffered a defeat. Li Chengjun, together with the court officials, submitted a memorial requesting that Father Emperor send the princess to Xixi for a marriage alliance."
"Wait a minute." The indenture interrupted Li Sanqi. "Li Chengjun? You mean the Crown Prince, right?"
"Yes, it's my damned crown prince brother!"
Li Sanqi said bitterly, "Right now, the only princesses of marriageable age who are still unmarried are Li Jingyue and me. And Li Jingyue is already engaged, so I've become the only princess suitable for a political marriage!"
Upon hearing this, Madam Min Qiao suddenly recalled how the Crown Prince had helped Li Sanqi and Lu Ming break off their engagement, and how Lu Ming had quickly become engaged to the Sixth Princess after breaking off his engagement with Li Sanqi.
Was it all premeditated?
But how could that be?
How did they know that fighting would break out on the border? And how were they sure that the Earl of Annam would be defeated?
Surely it couldn't all have been pre-arranged, could it?
However, it is highly illogical to have the Earl of Annan deliberately lose a battle in order to punish Li Sanqi and send her to a marriage alliance.
Even if the Crown Prince resented Li Sanqi for supporting the Prince of Qi and vying for power with him, he shouldn't have done something so foolish.
After all, there are many ways to deal with Li Sanqi.
It would be too much of a loss to trade the reputation of the Earl of Annan, the commander of the army, for the lives of countless ordinary soldiers.
Moreover, with the border unstable, the imperial court is also in turmoil.
What benefit would the crown prince gain from doing this?
Min Qiao couldn't figure out the key to it for a while, so she gave up on thinking about it.
"Even if you were a princess of marriageable age, it wouldn't be your turn to be sent for a political marriage, would it?"
Madam Min Qiao looked at Li Sanqi with suspicion, "There are so many women from noble families. They could just pick one at random, give her the title of princess, and send her off for a political marriage. Why would they send you?"
"You are the only legitimate princess of the current Emperor and Empress! And with the Empress Dowager protecting you, how could it be your turn!"
Hearing this, Li Sanqi's eyes were filled with resentment. She gritted her teeth and said, "The Crown Prince said that I sow discord among my brothers, undermine the foundation of the state, interfere in politics and disrupt the law, and act like a hen crowing at dawn. In order to stabilize the domestic situation in Dayan and to deceive Xi'e into believing that Dayan is sincerely seeking peace, sending me, the legitimate princess, to marry into the state is entirely beneficial!"
Madam Min was horrified. The Crown Prince was truly determined to send Li Sanqi to a marriage alliance! An's accusations were not unfounded. It was clearly premeditated.
"But the Crown Prince's one-sided statement alone is not enough to convince the Emperor to send you to marry a foreign ruler, is it?" She frowned and asked the question that had been bothering her.
Sure enough, Li Sanqi's eyes were bloodshot, his fists were clenched, and his whole body was trembling uncontrollably. He was clearly furious.
After thinking for a moment, Madam Min Qiao pointed to the teacup next to Li Sanqi and cautiously suggested, "Why don't you smash a teacup to vent your anger?"
Li Sanqi thought he had misheard and turned to look at Min Qiaoshi in astonishment.
Min Qiao nodded towards the teacup again.
Li Sanqi now confirmed that she wasn't hallucinating. It was Min Qiao Shi who really told her to smash the cup to vent her anger.
The turbulent emotions and deep resentment that had been building up suddenly dissipated.
She sighed, glanced at Madam Min, and then said, "If only the Crown Prince said this, perhaps there would still be a chance for things to turn around."
"But... Li Chengrui also clearly supports the Crown Prince's proposal!"
"You mean the Third Prince, the Prince of Qi?" Madam Min Qiao stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com