Chapter 433 The Transaction
"Xia Linyuan!" Zhen Huan glared at the Crown Prince with bloodshot eyes. "You'd better kill me, or I'll definitely kill you!"
They dared to drive Ajiu to her death, and they still dare to pressure the old lady again and again...
As long as she lives, she will never let him go!
"Go and invite Madam Qinghe in," Xia Linyuan instructed.
The guards obeyed and went out, quickly bringing in Min Qiaoshi, Wei Jia, and Lao Qiao.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince." Min Qiaoshi greeted him as usual, then looked at Zhen Huan, who had a knife to his neck and was glaring at Xia Linyuan with gritted teeth, and asked, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, what is this?"
Xia Linyuan said expressionlessly, "Last night and just now, the Fourth Miss attempted to assassinate me twice."
As she spoke, she intentionally or unintentionally showed the newly bandaged wound on her neck to Madam Min, "What crime do you think it is, Madam, to attempt to assassinate me?"
Madam Min was greatly alarmed and immediately tried to kneel down to admit her mistake.
But then Zhen Huan shouted angrily, "One should take responsibility for one's own actions. I was the one who tried to assassinate you, so kill me instead. I will not allow you to make things difficult for the old lady!"
Xia Linyuan ignored Zhen's impotent rage and looked at Min Qiaoshi without changing his expression, "The old rules, choose one of the two."
Xia Linyuan pointed at Zhen Huan, then at Wei Jia behind Min Qiao Shi, and said in a harsh tone, "Her, and her, Madam, choose one."
"Just for the crime of assassinating me and injuring me, even if I execute you all, I don't think the Emperor of Dayan will say anything."
"Now, the fact that I am only letting one of you die is already an act of great mercy."
What does the old lady think?
"Madam, please don't..."
He really wanted to say something, but Min Qiao gave him a cold look and shouted sharply, "Shut up!"
He obediently shut his mouth, but felt indescribably sad and guilty.
She knew she had caused trouble for the old lady.
Having stopped Zhen Huan, Madam Min Qiao turned to Xia Linyuan and said in a neither humble nor arrogant manner, "Your Highness, are you really trying to force me to my death by pressing me so aggressively?"
"The two countries are currently engaged in peace talks, and I am a noblewoman responsible for escorting the bride. If I were to die at the Crown Prince's residence at this time, do you think the peace talks could proceed smoothly?"
"Doesn't the old lady overestimate herself?" Xia Linyuan scoffed. "Does the old lady think she's influential enough to affect the situation between the two countries?"
Madam Min smiled, raised her chin slightly, and said confidently, "It certainly wasn't enough before. But now, that might not be the case."
Xia Linyuan became interested. "I'd like to hear more details."
Min Qiao didn't beat around the bush and said frankly, "Firstly, our Emperor of Dayan would absolutely not want me to die in Da'e without knowing why."
"As for the reason, I think His Highness should understand even without me saying it."
"Secondly, I have done a favor for the Seventh Princess. Now that she has returned, she will definitely not sit idly by and do nothing about my affairs."
"Thirdly, killing me would be detrimental to His Highness the Crown Prince in every way, and His Highness has no reason to kill me."
Xia Linyuan scoffed dismissively, "That's all?"
These reasons were simply not enough to persuade him.
Min Qiaoshi clearly saw Xia Linyuan's disdain, so she said with a half-smile, "Oh, I forgot to tell Your Highness, I have a grandson-in-law in Dayan who is known as the God of Slaughter, and he is currently leading tens of thousands of soldiers stationed at the border."
"Do you want to take a gamble? If news of my death gets back, will he lead his troops into Da'e?"
He really did speak up at the right moment: "If anything happens to the old lady, I will definitely not live on alone!"
"I am the apple of Lady Yongning's eye. If I die, she will surely have my father and my brothers avenge me!"
"My father and brothers are both fierce and brave generals. They will surely crush the Great Devil and avenge me!"
Hearing the two children's childish threats, Xia Linyuan was not angry at all. Instead, he was speechless and even rolled his eyes in a very unseemly manner.
What exactly was he testing?
What is there to fear about such an old, useless woman who only knows how to bluff?
What exactly made him think that Min Qiaoshi was cunning and not to be underestimated?
Just then, Madam Min suddenly changed the subject and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, may I have a few words with you alone?"
Xia Linyuan nodded and waved away his guards. The guards then took Zhen Huan away with them.
Madam Min also dismissed Wei Jia and Lao Qiao.
Xia Linyuan had lost interest in Madam Min and had no desire to continue testing her. He agreed to Madam Min's request entirely out of a last shred of respect for the old woman.
So, when only the two of them were left in the room, Xia Linyuan went straight to the point and asked, "What does the old lady want to say?"
Madam Min Qiao also said quite frankly, "I want to make a deal with His Highness the Crown Prince."
"A deal?" Xia Linyuan frowned.
“Yes.” Madam Min Qiao said solemnly, “I hope His Highness the Crown Prince will allow me to return to Dayan safely with my people. Wei Jia, Huan Zhen, Lao Qiao, and Qiao Jingyuan who is imprisoned.”
Xia Linyuan narrowed his eyes and asked in an unchanged tone, "Since it's a transaction, what will I get in return?"
With a determined look in her eyes, Madam Min Qiao said, "I can help His Highness the Crown Prince find out who the Marquis of Pingyan is."
"The Marquis of Pingyan is dead," Xia Linyuan said calmly.
Madam Min Qiao said with absolute certainty, "He's not dead!"
Xia Linyuan frowned slightly, "I personally led the imperial physicians and coroner to examine his body, there is absolutely no mistake."
Madam Min Qiao chuckled lightly, "Your Highness, are you so certain that the corpse you examined belongs to the Marquis of Pingyan?"
"Even if the corpse Your Highness examined was that of Marquis Pingyan, can Your Highness assure you that Marquis Pingyan wasn't feigning death by taking some secret medicine?"
“That’s impossible!” Xia Linyuan shook his head in denial. “First of all, the imperial physician and the coroner have both confirmed that the person is indeed dead, there is no doubt about that.”
"Therefore, the possibility of feigning death by taking the secret drug is ruled out."
"As for whether the body is that of the Marquis of Pingyan, I have personally confirmed that. There is absolutely no mistake!"
Xia Linyuan spoke with absolute certainty, but Madam Min Qiao still insisted on her opinion, "Are you so sure that the corpse is that of the Marquis of Pingyan?"
Xia Linyuan said with absolute certainty, "I'm sure it's Marquis Pingyan! His height, build, and appearance are all exactly the same as Marquis Pingyan's."
"Moreover, and most importantly, we were assassinated together when I was young. And the scars he got from shielding me from that attack are exactly the same!"
"Isn't that proof enough?"
Madam Min Qiao calmly said, "This only proves that Marquis Pingyan had long been prepared to fake his death and escape, and even prepared a substitute for himself in the first place!"
Seeing that Xia Linyuan was about to argue again, Madam Min Qiao preemptively said, "Your Highness, setting aside all the evidence before you, honestly, do you think the Marquis of Pingyan you know would die so easily?"
Xia Linyuan had nothing to say.
The answer is: No.
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