Chapter 472 The Beheading Scene
Instead of answering, she asked, "Sister Jiang, did you see anyone from the Qiao family in Nancheng in the crowd?"
The Qiao Mansion in the South City, also known as the Qinghe Lady Mansion.
Now, throughout the capital, people refer to Qiao Qinghe's Qinghe Madam's residence as "Qiao Mansion in the South City".
There's no way around it; in the entire capital, apart from a handful of princess residences, only Qiao Qinghe's Qinghe Madam Residence is a mansion where a woman holds up the prestige of the family.
If it weren't for Emperor Xiaozhao's imperial decree, the Qinghe Lady's residence would have been riddled with criticism by the censors and officials from the Ministry of Rites.
It's simply outrageous for a woman to establish her own residence, especially one located in the southern part of the city where merchants congregate!
Add to that all the things Qiao Qinghe has done in the past few years... she almost drove several stubborn old men crazy!
"No."
Jiang Hongling paused, then explained, "At this time, the old lady should be busy too."
"Besides, it's not appropriate for her to be in this kind of situation."
Ultimately, they broke away from the Min family.
"Oh. Yes, they're busy, busy changing the surname of the Min family descendants!"
Min Pan'er scoffed and turned to look at the beautiful woman who was being supported by two maids and was on the verge of fainting.
"What's wrong with Auntie? Her head was only half cut off, and she can't hold on anymore?"
After saying that, he coldly ordered the two maids, "You two support my concubine. If she faints, you will each be punished with twenty strokes of the cane when we get back."
"Yes, we will certainly help Madam well," a quick-witted maid replied.
Another maid took advantage of the opportunity to help Liu Shi and pinched her arm hard.
Liu was in so much pain that her face contorted, but she dared not make a sound. She could only bite her lip and endure the pain.
The maid's actions were not concealed and were clearly seen by Min Pan'er and Jiang Hongling.
Jiang Hongling looked at Liu Shi with a pained expression, then at Min Pan'er, and couldn't help but advise, "Pan'er, Liu Shi is still your aunt."
This wasn't the first time she had witnessed the maids around Lady Liu bullying her.
At first, Jiang Hongling thought that the maid was disrespecting her master and that she was using her position to bully her.
It was later discovered that both maids were acting on Min Pan'er's orders.
They had moved from the inn to the mansion bestowed by the Emperor a few days ago, and several servants had been added to the mansion.
However, servants were basically responsible for menial tasks such as cooking, washing clothes, and cleaning.
Neither she nor Min Pan'er had any personal maids serving them; they did everything themselves, from eating and dressing to grooming.
But just a few days ago, after Min Pan'er's aunt, Liu, came to the capital, Min Pan'er suddenly bought two maids from outside to serve Liu.
At the time, Jiang Hongling thought Min Pan'er was being thoughtful.
Within two days, she discovered that what she thought was intentional was completely different from what Min Pan'er meant by intentional.
She thought the two maids were bought to serve Liu Shi.
As it turned out, the two maids were bought by Min Pan'er to guard and torment Liu Shi.
From verbal abuse to physical and verbal beatings, it was a torment that affected both mind and body!
Several times Jiang Hongling couldn't bear to watch and wanted to stop them, but Min Pan'er stopped her.
This time too.
Liu originally did not want to come to the execution ground to witness the beheading of the Min clan members, but Min Pan'er forcibly brought her to the scene.
Liu was so frightened she almost fainted, but Min Pan'er ordered the two maids not to let her faint.
Jiang Hongling's feelings were extremely complicated.
"Is Sister Jiang feeling sorry for my aunt?"
Min Pan'er pouted and said aggrievedly, "Then who will feel sorry for me?"
“Back then, I could have run away, I could have resisted to the death and refused to go to Dalu.”
"It was my dear aunt who threatened to kill herself and forced me to go!"
"She gave birth to me so that she could enter the Min family."
"She supported me in order to use me to obtain the status and position she wanted."
"To force me to obey and to go to the brothel obediently, she even threatened to kill herself."
"But what was the result? I went to Daxi and endured many hardships."
"But she lived a life of luxury and extravagance in the Min family."
“Now, the Min family members have been beheaded or exiled, but I did not abandon her. I even pleaded for her and spared her from punishment.”
"Haven't I done enough?"
"All I want now is for her to listen to me and do what I want, that's all."
Is this really that bad?
Seeing that Min Pan'er was about to lose control of her emotions, Jiang Hongling quickly reached out and hugged Min Pan'er, gently patting her and softly comforting her: "Don't be angry, it was my fault, I won't say anything more. I won't try to persuade you anymore."
"Pan'er, don't be sad. I know you're suffering, and I know you've been through a lot. It's okay now. It's all over. Everything will be alright. I'll always be by your side. Don't be sad..."
Min Pan'er reached out and hugged Jiang Hongling back, responding with a muffled "Mmm".
His gaze drifted toward Li Chengming, the King of Chu, who sat on a high platform in the distance.
At the same time, Li Chengming, the Prince of Chu, who was sitting on the execution platform, also saw Min Pan'er suddenly become emotional and burst into tears, and his heart tightened.
Is it because he was saddened by seeing the beheading of members of the Min clan?
Were you bullied?
Li Chengming glanced at Liu Shi, who was standing next to Min Pan'er.
Min Pan'er suddenly erupted after turning around and talking to Liu Shi.
Who is that person? They do look somewhat like Min Pan'er.
"Who is Fifth Brother looking at?"
Sitting next to Prince Li Chengming of Chu, Crown Prince Li Chengjun followed the Prince's gaze and immediately spotted the stunningly beautiful Min Pan'er in the crowd.
"Is that the Min family girl who took the place of Seventh Sister in Xi'an?"
“That’s right.” Li Chengming didn’t hide anything and nodded in acknowledgment.
Sitting on the other side of the Crown Prince, Prince Qi, Li Chengrui, also glanced in that direction and said with a smile, "Fifth Brother has good taste. That Miss Min is indeed stunningly beautiful. No wonder Fifth Brother has been so obsessed with her. He'd rather anger Seventh Sister than not bring her back to the capital."
Li Chengming quickly denied it: "Third Brother, don't talk nonsense and ruin Miss Min's reputation. I have no relationship with Miss Min. I protected her and brought her back to the capital only because I felt that the royal family owed her something and wanted to make amends. I had no other intentions."
Li Chengrui laughed and replied, "Hehe, whatever Fifth Brother says goes." But the meaning behind his words was quite different.
Just then, the Crown Prince glanced at Prince Qi and said, "If I remember correctly, Third Brother's wife is also from the Min family, isn't she?"
"Oh no, from today onwards, Third Sister-in-law is a member of the Qiao family."
"Tsk tsk, a royal wife who betrays her ancestors and changes her surname, is probably the first one in history to be like this, right?"
"Third brother is so lucky!"
King Qi was seething with hatred, but he smiled and replied, "Lady Qinghe has changed her surname and established her own household with her children and grandchildren. This is by order of the Emperor."
"Is the Crown Prince questioning Father's decision?"
The prince's face darkened.
The King of Chu quickly tried to smooth things over, saying, "Eldest brother, third brother, we're all brothers. A few jokes are fine, there's no need to make the atmosphere so tense."
"Father sent us here to oversee the execution, not to argue and see who has the sharpest tongue."
"Let's talk less and get the job done, okay?"
The crown prince's face darkened further.
Who is he doing this for?
The fifth brother is a good-for-nothing who can't tell the difference between his own side and his own!
Seeing the Crown Prince's dark face, the King of Qi, who was not happy to be lectured by the younger King of Chu, suddenly became happy.
He smiled and nodded in response, "Fifth Brother is right. We brothers shouldn't argue in front of outsiders. I was wrong just now; I shouldn't have made unfounded speculations about the relationship between Fifth Brother and the Min family girl. Third Brother apologizes to you."
"Third Brother, you're too kind." Li Chengming quickly replied politely, "It was my carelessness that caused you to misunderstand. I will behave properly and be more careful in my words and actions in the future."
Seeing the two brothers chatting happily and respectfully, the Crown Prince felt a lump in his throat.
It's happening again! It's happening again!
It's one thing for Li Sanqi to favor the third brother, but why isn't Li Chengming on his side either?
They were all his compatriots and brothers!
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