Chapter 522 The News Qiao Ning Overheard
Qiao Qinghe's expression changed. "Didn't the old lady promise to take you out to a banquet after I introduced you to the ladies of prominent families in the capital? Why did she suddenly change her mind?"
Qiao Ning said with difficulty, "Great-grandmother went out today to visit Second Grandmother. After learning that Third Aunt was also going to the banquet, she got very angry."
"Is the old lady trying to force me to take you to the banquet?"
Qiao Ning shook her head. "Great-grandmother plans to go to the Qi Prince's residence early tomorrow morning before Princess Qi leaves, and ask Princess Qi to take me to the banquet."
Hearing this, Qiao Qinghe was speechless.
Is the old lady aware that her approach is unsuccessful, so she wants to try her luck with Min Yuexi?
This old lady is really persistent!
But why was she in such a hurry to push Qiao Ning into the public eye?
Wouldn't it be better to take things one step at a time, as she said?
What is the old lady so anxious about?
Qiao Qinghe looked at Qiao Ning, "What are you thinking?"
Qiao Ning tightened her grip on the handkerchief, bit her lip, and after a long while, she raised her head and looked at Qiao Qinghe with a determined gaze, "I don't want to go."
Actually, she had already guessed Qiao Ning's answer from the moment Qiao Ning came to find her.
But she still asked doubtfully, "You should know that if we follow the old lady's approach, it's almost impossible for Princess Qi to refuse her, and she'll likely end up taking you to the banquet."
"You'll be able to make your mark in the capital's aristocratic circles sooner. There's really nothing wrong with that."
Qiao Ning's face turned even paler. She held back for a long time, but finally couldn't help but say, "Aunt, I don't want to be someone's concubine!"
Upon hearing this, Qiao Qinghe was completely stunned.
"What do you mean, 'become a concubine'? Who gave you permission to become a concubine? Whose concubine? How can the legitimate daughter of the Qiao family become someone else's concubine?..."
Qiao Qinghe asked a series of questions in a very emotional manner, and in the end, she was stunned.
Why can't the eldest daughter of the Qiao family become someone's concubine?
Isn't she a ready-made precedent?
She was not only the eldest daughter of the Qiao family, but also the most beloved granddaughter of the Qiao family patriarch and matriarch!
He was even the old man and woman's precious child, raised by them from scratch!
In the end, wasn't she still sent to the Marquis of Xuanping's residence to become Min Ji's concubine?
Qiao Qinghe stared at Qiao Ning with a livid face and asked in an icy voice, "What exactly happened? Explain yourself clearly!"
Qiao Ning trembled with fright before saying in a shaky voice, "Before leaving Jiangnan, I overheard my father and mother talking."
“My father said that my great-grandfather and grandfather want me to come to the capital to be someone’s concubine.”
“My mother cried and begged my father, but my father said he couldn’t do anything about it; it was the decision of my great-grandfather and grandfather.”
Qiao Qinghe frowned. "Did they say who they wanted you to be their concubine?"
Qiao Ning bit her lip and glanced at Qiao Qinghe fearfully, as if she wanted to speak but dared not.
Qiao Qinghe could only soothe her, saying, "I know you're a good child. Go ahead and tell me, I won't hold it against you."
Qiao Ning hesitated for a moment before saying, "King Qi."
"Who are you talking about!?"
Upon hearing this answer, Qiao Qinghe was both shocked and furious; the abacus beads were practically jumping into her face.
Qiao Ning clenched her fist and said again, "Prince Qi. My cousin's husband, His Highness Prince Qi!"
"What a brilliant plan!"
When Qiao Qinghe heard Qiao Ning pronounce "Big Cousin" correctly, she was so angry that she laughed.
It turns out that the Qiao family in Jiangnan knew that the Prince of Qi was Min Yuexi's husband!
The news of Min Yuexi's pregnancy must have only recently reached Jiangnan, right?
So they couldn't wait to send someone to the capital to replace Min Yuexi?
First they wanted to seize the position of heir in her household, and now they want to send Qiao Ning to the Qi Prince's mansion. What does the Qiao family want to do next?
"Aunt, I don't want to be a concubine, and I don't want to share a husband with my cousin. Please help me."
Qiao Ning's words brought Qiao Qinghe back to her senses from her rage. "Alright, your aunt promises you, I will definitely not let you become someone's concubine."
"Thank you, Aunt." Qiao Ning breathed a sigh of relief, her expression softening considerably. It was clear that she genuinely disliked being a concubine.
Qiao Qinghe thought for a moment, then looked at Qiao Ning with a serious expression, "You just said that the idea of you becoming Prince Qi's concubine was your grandfather and great-grandfather's?"
Qiao Ning nodded: "That's what my dad told my mom."
Okay, I understand.
Qiao Qinghe waved her hand, "Go back. Don't let anyone else know about this."
"I understand." Qiao Ning stood up and greeted him. "Then I'll head back now. Auntie, you should rest early too."
Qiao Qinghe nodded. "Go ahead."
After thinking for a moment, he called the person back, "Wait a minute."
Qiao Ning turned around and looked at her. "Aunt, is there anything else you need to tell me?"
Qiao Qinghe hesitated for a moment, but still said, "Go back and prepare. I will take you to the banquet at Princess Huaiyang's residence tomorrow."
Qiao Ning was immediately alarmed and said urgently, "Aunt, I don't want to..."
Qiao Qinghe raised her hand to interrupt her, "Don't worry, I promised I wouldn't let you become someone's concubine, and I will definitely keep my word."
Qiao Ning secretly breathed a sigh of relief and obediently replied, "Qiao Ning will do whatever Auntie says."
"Good child, go back now. If the old lady wants to take you to the Prince Qi's mansion tomorrow, just say that you came to beg me and I agreed to take you to the banquet."
"Yes. Thank you, Aunt. Qiao Ning will take her leave now."
After Qiao Ning left, Qiao Qinghe couldn't fall asleep anymore.
She originally thought that the Qiao family's sudden arrival in Beijing was because Min Ji was secretly causing trouble.
However, judging from the current situation, it seems more like the Qiao family has relapsed into their old habit of greed.
But is that really the case?
Qiao Ning said that it was her grandfather and great-grandfather's idea to send her to the capital to become a concubine for the Prince of Qi.
However, based on Qiao Qinghe's understanding of her father and elder brother, her father was moderate, and thirty years ago, her grandfather was in charge of everything in the Qiao family. Thirty years later, her elder brother was the head of the Qiao family. Her father actually didn't have much say in the Qiao family.
As for her elder brother, Qiao Qingping, he is focused on gains and losses, but he is not a brainless person; he has his own strategies.
This can be seen from Qiao Qingping's actions when she returned to her hometown two years ago.
He would use his younger brother and nephew to benefit the family, and he would also keep his niece-in-law and nephew in his hands as bargaining chips to control his younger brother and nephew.
Cruel yet realistic.
However, he can easily let go when necessary.
For example, she could have allowed Zhou and her daughter to return to the capital with her. Or, she could have generously given the second wife a large sum of family property.
It makes people like him.
In reality, what ultimately drives all of Qiao Qingping's actions is nothing more than self-interest.
He initially took control of his second brother's family for personal gain. Later, he let his second sister-in-law's family leave, also to curry favor with her and secure long-term benefits.
But would someone who prioritizes profit really allow an old woman to bring people to Beijing to cause trouble?
Knowing that she dared to abandon the Min family and even her own son Min Rong, why did they think they would be at the mercy of the Qiao family?
So, what exactly was Qiao Qingping's reason for doing this?
And what was the reason behind Old Mrs. Qiao's extremely bad attitude towards her?
Qiao Qinghe sighed silently. All her doubts would probably only be resolved when news came back from Jiangnan.
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