Chapter 378 Heading to Xijing
"If it's not Ji Huailang, then who could it be?" the old woodcutter asked curiously. "Could there be two people in this world who look exactly alike?"
Min Qiao said with a wry smile, "What I painted was Min Ji when he was young."
Min Ji?
Both of them were stunned for a moment before realizing who Min Qiaoshi was talking about.
Old Woodcutter asked in astonishment, "Does the old lady suspect that Ji Huailang has a relationship with the old Marquis?"
"Could it be the old Marquis's son?"
"He can't be a grandson, can he?"
Considering his age, Min Ji is sixty years old, so it doesn't seem impossible for him to have a twenty-two-year-old grandson.
But how come Min Ji's grandson is in Da'e?
Looking at the portrait on the table, Madam Min felt a turmoil of sorrow in her heart.
Ji Huailang, twenty-two years old, twenty-two years old...
Min Hui, who died, was also twenty-two years old!
Is there really such a coincidence in the world?
Even if Min Ji, who had only faked his death and gone into hiding for more than ten years, got married and had children after infiltrating Da Xi, he still couldn't have a twenty-two-year-old son!
Her age is exactly the same as that of the deceased Min Hui.
As for a grandson... then Min Ji would inevitably have to have a son before marrying Wang Shi.
At that time, Min Ji was focused on saving the Xuanping Marquis's mansion and had no interest in anything else.
Moreover, the Wang family was a prominent and powerful family at the time. If they had known that Min Ji had already given birth to his eldest son by a concubine, how could the Wang family have allowed Wang Shi to marry him?
Therefore, the only thing she could think of was that Ji Huailang was the child that Wang Shi had given birth to.
As for Min Hui, I'm afraid he's not only not Min Ji's son, but he's not even a member of the Wang family! He's just a simple substitute!
If all of her guesses are true, then when exactly did Min Ji start planning to come to Dae?
Why bring the son born to Wang?
If Wang's son is Da'e, then what about Wang herself?
Was she really dead?
Could it be that she was also secretly brought to Dae by Min Ji after faking her death?
Min Qiao felt like her brain was about to explode.
Shock, bewilderment, suspicion, sadness, anger... countless emotions filled her heart, making it increasingly difficult for her to breathe.
It looked as if he was about to run out of breath.
Could her guesses really be true?
If it's really true, then what about her, Min Rong, Min Yao, and the others who were left behind?
besides!
If Min Ji really planned to come to Daxi when he replaced Min Hui and Ji Huailang, was he really just there to lie in wait?
Or perhaps he already had other ideas all along?
In Dayan, the Xuanping Marquisate, which he tried so hard to preserve, was nothing more than a marquisate.
Now, in Da'an, he has become the Marquis of Pingyan.
Look at Ji Huailang, he became a General of Martial Valor at such a young age. I'm afraid Min Ji's position in Da'e will only be higher than it was in Dayan!
Will he still want to get back Dayan?
Will they still genuinely work for Dayan?
If he had ulterior motives from the very beginning...
Min Qiaoshi dared not think any further.
"Grandma? Grandma?"
"Madam? Madam?"
Seeing that Madam Min remained silent, her complexion grew increasingly worse. Until Madam Min's face turned deathly pale, her lips were bloodless, and her whole body began to tremble slightly uncontrollably.
The two finally couldn't help but call out a few times in worry.
"Grandmother, what's wrong?"
"Madam, what's on your mind? Why do you look like that?"
Both of them looked at Min Qiaoshi with deep concern.
Ever since meeting Ji Huailang, Min Qiaoshi has been acting strangely.
Min Qiaoshi came to her senses, clenched her fists tightly, and said in a deep voice, "I'm going to Xijing."
Old Woodcutter's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly advised, "Madam, war is about to break out. How can we go to Xijing at this time? We should return to Dayan as soon as possible."
As she spoke, she looked at Zhen Huan, clearly wanting him to help persuade him as well.
To everyone's surprise, she said with an indifferent expression, "Wherever Grandmother goes, I will go. If Grandmother is going to Xijing, I will accompany her to Xijing."
Upon hearing this, the old woodcutter immediately became anxious. "Do you know how dangerous it would be for the old lady to go to Xijing at this time? Why don't you help me persuade the old lady instead of causing trouble here?"
Then, she looked at Madam Min with a pleading expression, "Madam, please come back to Dayan with me. We really can't go to Xijing right now!"
Madam Min shook her head and said firmly, "I have a reason to go to Xijing!"
"If I don't see that person and get to the bottom of things face to face, I won't be able to die in peace!"
"Madam..."
Old Qiao wanted to persuade her further, but Madam Min Qiao raised her hand to interrupt him, saying resolutely, "There are some things I need to figure out!"
"If my guess is right, then I have to do something!"
"Otherwise, even if I go back with you now, I will still die in the future!"
What she didn't say was that if Min Ji really betrayed Dayan, when the truth was revealed, not only her, but also the entire Xuanping Marquis's Mansion, the entire Qiao family, and all the people and families associated with them would be thoroughly purged!
Therefore, she had to go to Xi'an!
I must see Min Ki!
We must find out Min Ji's true intentions!
...
Seeing Min Qiao's resolute attitude and the seriousness of her words, the old woodcutter could no longer persuade her. He could only helplessly begin to plan how to get to Xijing, and how to conceal their identities and ensure their safety once there.
Having made their decision, the three members of the Min Qiao family disguised themselves again, pretending to be a grandfather and grandson traveling from the border to Xijing to escape the war.
At this time, the people in the marriage alliance were being investigated within the territory of Da'e, so the searches at the border passes were very strict.
Conversely, the censorship for those going to Xijing was barely noticeable.
Thus, Min Qiao and her two companions traveled unimpeded towards Xijing.
***
On the other side, Wenxiu and Li Sanqi, after disguising themselves, were also heading back to Dayan.
However, the two also encountered numerous obstacles. Several times they were in grave danger. On two occasions, they were almost captured by the soldiers guarding the city.
Finally, having no other option, the two ran towards a place where the checks were lax.
And so, without realizing it, the two of them embarked on their journey to Xijing.
***
Compared to Min Qiao's unwavering determination and Li Sanqi's muddled actions, the escape journey of Ajiu, Min Pan'er, and Jiang Hongling was simply hellish!
From the very beginning, the three of them suffered the most assassination attempts and were all wounded. Min Pan'er's injuries were even severe, rendering her unable to walk.
Ajiu and Jiang Hongling supported her the whole way.
So, after several days, the three of them hadn't gotten very far at all.
Later, the sixth brother caught up with them. If Jiang Hongling hadn't helped Min Pan'er block the attack, Min Pan'er would have died on the spot.
Fortunately, Ah Jiu reacted quickly and struck while Lao Liu was trying to assassinate Min Pan'er, injuring Lao Liu's vitals.
Only then did the sixth brother abandon the three men and flee, wounded.
Min Pan'er was already unable to walk, and now Jiang Hongling is also unable to walk.
No, let alone walking, it's questionable whether Jiang Hongling can even survive.
Because Lao Liu's throwing knife was deeply embedded in Jiang Hongling's vest.
Without a doctor or sufficient effective hemostatic medicine, Ajiu didn't dare to pull the throwing knife out directly for her.
"Wait here for me, I'll take Miss Jiang to see a doctor first!"
Faced with Min Pan'er, who was unable to walk, and Jiang Hongling, who was unconscious due to her injuries, Ajiu almost without hesitation chose to take Jiang Hongling to find someone to save her life first.
Without waiting for Min Pan'er's response, she picked up Jiang Hongling, who was half a head taller than her, and ran down the mountain.
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