Chapter 397 A Complete Showdown
"What are you doing here?!" Madam Min looked at Qiao Jingyuan in shock, her eyes filled with disbelief.
Yesterday, she confidently told Wei Jia that Qiao Jingyuan would never abandon his family feud and his mother and sister to join Min Ji and betray the country with him.
Today, she was thoroughly humiliated.
The fact that Qiao Jingyuan was able to appear in Min Ji's study at this time meant almost nothing.
Madam Min Qiao glared at Qiao Jingyuan and asked emotionally, "Are you really going to betray Dayan with Min Ji? You don't care about your mother and your sister? You don't care about the Qiao family being schemed against by Min Ji?"
Qiao Jingyuan said expressionlessly, "Aunt, we are not betraying our country and turning to the enemy. We are abandoning darkness for light."
"Dayan is determined to restart the war. Can't you see that? The people are devastated, the lives are ruined, the people are displaced, countless people have shed their blood on the battlefield, leaving behind orphans and widows in misery. Is this what you want to see?"
Qiao Jingyuan paused, softened his tone, and continued, "My mother and sister, the Marquis has already arranged for someone to secretly bring them to Da'e. They are probably on their way to Da'e right now."
"As for the family feud that my aunt mentioned..."
"Admittedly, Lord Marquis initially harbored ulterior motives towards the Qiao family, but wasn't what you did also a way of helping the Qiao family?"
“My aunt must know that once Emperor Xiaozhao takes action himself, which of those families in Jiangnan will escape having their property confiscated and their clan exterminated?”
"But the Qiao family has managed to extricate themselves from that quagmire. Apart from losing some money and property, everyone is alive and well. Isn't that the best outcome?"
Madam Min Qiao was almost amused by Qiao Jingyuan's words. "So, Min Ji schemed against my dowry, schemed against the Qiao family's assets, and caused the Qiao family's ancestral foundation to be destroyed. Not only do you not think he is wrong, but you are also sincerely grateful to him?"
A hint of embarrassment flashed in Qiao Jingyuan's eyes, but his expression remained firm. "Those ancestral assets will never fall into the hands of our second branch anyway, will they? If they're destroyed, so be it. As long as everyone is safe, that's all that matters. For that alone, I'm grateful to the Marquis!"
"I think Aunt should also thank the Marquis!"
"If it weren't for the Marquis's foresight, the Qiao family might not have been able to survive, and my aunt wouldn't have such a noble status and position today."
"Therefore, whether from a moral, rational, or national perspective, my aunt should step forward to testify and expose Dayan's conspiracy! To restore peace and stability to the people of the world!"
"Clap clap clap..."
After listening to Qiao Jingyuan's impassioned speech, Madam Min Qiao couldn't help but applaud.
She clapped as she walked towards Qiao Jingyuan, saying, "What you said is so well done!"
Just as she walked up to Qiao Jingyuan, she raised her hand and slapped him across the face. "Don't say that again!"
"If you don't speak, I can pretend you're mute. But if you dare say something like that to me again, I'll just make sure you're dead!"
After saying that, she turned to Min Ji, her gaze chilling, and said, "Min Ji, you've schemed against me your whole life, and now you still want to scheme against me! Do you really think I, Qiao Qinghe, have no temper?"
As she spoke, she raised her right hand high, making a gesture as if she was about to slap Min Ji across the face.
Min Ji smiled faintly, glancing sideways at her raised hand, "Do you want to hit me? Go ahead, I won't fight back."
"But I must defend myself."
"When I married you, I meant it!"
"There are so many prestigious families and so many eligible women in Jiangnan for me to choose from. But I took a liking to you at first sight!"
"After you entered the manor, I treated you with all my heart. I let you manage the household affairs as a concubine, let you give birth to the eldest son instead of the principal wife, and later I even made you the principal wife and established your son as the heir!"
"I swear to God, when I did all this for you, I was completely sincere! There was absolutely no ulterior motive whatsoever!"
"As for what comes next..."
"Smack!"
Before Min Ji could finish speaking, Min Qiao's slap landed on his face.
Originally, Madam Min Qiao was just putting on an act and never intended to actually slap Min Ji.
But this bastard is utterly shameless! And far too brazen!
Did he think she would still have feelings for him and wouldn't be able to bring herself to hurt him?
Even at this point, they still dare to bring up past events to disgust her!
Could it be... that this bastard thinks he can easily fool her by showing his "sincerity"?
A leopard can't change its spots!
Sure enough, after the slap, the pretense that Min Ji had maintained for half a day finally cracked.
He looked at Min Qiaoshi in disbelief, "You actually hit me?"
Madam Min glared at him fiercely, "That was fake just now, this is the real thing!"
As she spoke, she slapped him again with her backhand.
"Are you sober now? Do you feel the reality now? If not, I don't mind giving you a few more slaps."
This time, Min Ji was also furious.
His eyes widened in anger as he glared fiercely at Madam Min Qiao and shouted sternly, "Madam Qiao! Have I been too kind to you? How dare you slap me in the face again and again?"
Min Qiao scoffed, "Look, isn't this normal now?"
"I've already told you, don't try that old trick on me, it's disgusting!"
"Wang is an ignorant woman who can't understand human language, so let's just leave it at that."
"Who are you, Min Ji? You're just an old silver coin who went from being the Marquis of Dayan Xuanping to the Marquis of Daye Pingyan. Can't you even understand human language?"
Min Qiao curled her lip in disdain and continued, "Just because you're smart doesn't mean everyone else is a fool."
"Ha, you think I didn't notice?"
"You used your 'sincere' intentions to trick me into guarding the Xuanping Marquis's residence for you. Yet you turned around and brought Wang and her son to Da'e!"
"Tch, where is your true heart? Do I even need to tell you?"
"You ruined Min Rong, kept Min Hui, and schemed against our mother-son relationship!"
"You've made a name for yourself in Da'an, yet you've made me and Min Rong, those you abandoned, hostages in Emperor Xiaozhao's hands!"
"From the moment you decided to betray Dayan, you sentenced all of us to death!"
"Now that you have something to use me for, you've summoned me again, ready to reuse me!"
"What? I can't resist?"
"Ha, slapping you twice is too lenient!"
"I just don't have a knife on me. If I did, I would have stabbed you right through the heart!"
Upon hearing these words, Min Ji's anger vanished completely.
He looked at Madam Min with a complicated expression. "When did you figure it out?"
Madam Min smiled sarcastically and asked, "Does that matter?"
"It's really not important."
Min Ji's expression hardened, and he said seriously, "Since you've figured it out, let's talk about the terms."
What will it take for you to cooperate with my plan?
Without a second thought, Madam Min Qiao resolutely refused: "Cooperate with you? Absolutely not!"
After saying that, he turned and walked out.
She knew everything she wanted to know. She confirmed everything she wanted to confirm.
The purpose of today's visit has been achieved. It's time to leave.
However, just as she reached the door and was about to open it, Min Ji's threatening voice suddenly came from behind her: "Qiao's Group, are you sure you want to refuse?"
Madam Min rolled her eyes and was about to leave without looking back when she heard Min Ji continue, "You didn't bring a knife, but I have plenty of handy weapons in my study."
What's the meaning! ?
Min Qiao suddenly turned around and saw Min Ji take out a dagger from the antique shelf behind him.
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