Chapter 245 The initially unsuccessful plan begins to show results
Upon seeing the Seventh Princess and the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Princes who had arrived together, everyone was startled and quickly stood up to pay their respects.
Many people were unaware that the princesses and princes were coming, including Madam Yu.
Of course, Lady Yongning had received the news in advance, but she simply did not tell Lady Yu.
Madam Yu was completely terrified.
There was a reason why she would send Min Qiao away without asking any questions.
Years ago, when she was still in the capital, Madam Min Qiao was already the Grand Madam of the Xuanping Marquis's Mansion, with the same status and position as her.
In fact, she came from an official family, far superior to Min Qiaoshi, who was born a merchant's daughter and a concubine.
But Min Qiaoshi was always more considerate than her in her words, actions, and interactions with others. This made her seem like the one who was of humble origin and lacked manners.
Therefore, she disliked Min Qiaoshi very much at that time.
She had tried to trip up Min Qiaoshi both openly and secretly, but Min Qiaoshi managed to defuse the situation without making a sound.
Later, she accidentally lost her granddaughter, who was then sent back to her hometown.
She was lucky to be able to return to Beijing this time, and she never intended to cause trouble.
But just a few days ago, her granddaughter went out to shop at a fabric store and came back crying, saying that she had encountered Min Qiaoshi and had been severely humiliated by her.
What's even more despicable is that Madam Min dared to slander her by saying that she deliberately lost her own granddaughter back then.
She was so angry that her liver hurt.
If she hadn't been wary and dared not cause trouble so soon after returning to the capital, she would have wanted to rush to the Xuanping Marquis's residence and tear Min Qiao's mouth apart.
She had finally waited for the flower banquet, and she was originally planning to make things difficult for Madam Min Qiao at the banquet. However, before she could even make a move, she heard a servant report that Madam Min Qiao and the Crown Princess's family were having a fight in the flower hall.
She rushed over and, without saying a word, tried to kick the person out.
Ha, the host kicked her out before the banquet even started. Let's see how Min Qiaoshi will have the face to stay in the capital's social circles after this.
However, to her surprise, just as she was about to ask them to leave, she ran into several princesses and princes.
The crowd greeted each other.
After the ceremony, Madam Yu looked up at the Seventh Princess with a flattering expression, preparing to explain herself. Unexpectedly, she saw the Lady of Yongning Marquis behind the princes and princesses.
Madam Yu's face immediately turned furious.
She thought the princesses and princes' arrival was too coincidental; it turned out to be the work of her beloved daughter-in-law, who hated her to the core.
Lady Yongning, who had come with the princess and princes, naturally heard her mother-in-law's words about kicking them out, and her face immediately turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
Seeing the resentful look in her mother-in-law's eyes, Lady Yongning gritted her teeth.
Could this old hag think she deliberately brought the princess and prince to embarrass her?
Lady Yongning sneered inwardly. If she hadn't acted so absurdly, how could she be in such a predicament now?
"I was unaware that Your Highnesses and the Seventh Princess were coming. Please forgive me for not welcoming you properly."
Madam Yu suppressed her anger and went forward to greet him in a conciliatory manner, trying to cover up what had just happened.
However, in response to her flattery, Li Sanqi sneered, "It's fortunate you didn't know. If you had known we were coming, how could we have witnessed Madam Yu's display of power?"
Madam Yu smiled awkwardly and tried to appease her, "Seventh Princess, you misunderstand. It's just that Madam Qiao is too good at causing trouble; she can stir up trouble wherever she goes."
"The banquet hadn't even started yet, and she was already causing trouble with someone. I didn't want her to ruin my banquet, so I wanted her to leave early."
"Ah, as far as I know, Madam Qiao is always very reasonable. She would never go looking for trouble unless someone stirs it up."
Li Sanqi spoke with absolute certainty, looking at Madam Yu with a half-smile, "Madam Yu, have you found out the reason for this? Did Madam Qiao cause this trouble on her own initiative?"
"This..." Madam Yu dared not say that she hadn't asked, and remained silent for a long time.
Just then, Qiao Yuanyao walked up to Li Sanqi, bowed, and then recounted the whole incident truthfully without embellishment.
Upon hearing that Lady Min Qiao was at odds with the Crown Prince, the Wu family, and the Annam Earl's Mansion, the Third Prince, who had been looking impatient, suddenly became interested.
The Wu family is the Crown Princess's maternal family, so they are naturally loyal to the Crown Prince.
The An'nan Earl's Mansion and the Lu family are entangled in a complicated relationship. Lu Ming is currently the Crown Prince's right-hand man. Therefore, the An'nan Earl's Mansion can essentially be considered part of the Crown Prince's faction.
With the Earl of Annan holding military power and supporting the Crown Prince, he had virtually no chance of winning.
Even if he did marry Zhong Liuniang, the granddaughter of the Minister of Personnel, it would be of no use.
But what did he hear now?
Min Qiaoshi was at odds with the Wu family and the Crown Prince.
Lady Enping was the granddaughter of Lady Minqiao and was very protective of Lady Minqiao.
Does that mean that as long as he can win over Min Qiaoshi, he can make the Earl of Enping work for him?
The Earl of Enping was a figure who could rival the Earl of Annan.
No, the Earl of Enping is better than the Earl of Annan! More important!
Although the Annam Earl's Mansion controlled a much larger army than the Enping Earl, the Enping Earl controlled the city defense troops of the capital region, right under the emperor's nose!
Thinking about all this, the Third Prince became restless.
After listening to Qiao Yuanyao's account, no one present refuted it, which means that what she said was true.
The incident was started by the Wu family mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and the fire was also stirred up by the wife of the Earl of Annan. Min Qiaoshi was merely responding passively.
Li Sanqi snorted coldly, glaring sharply at the troublemakers. "Madam Annan, isn't the Marquis of Annan about to leave the capital? Why aren't you at home packing his bags? How come you have time to come out to a banquet?"
Lady Annam smiled awkwardly, "Your Highness is too kind. My lord has never intended to leave the capital."
"Oh, it seems it hasn't been decided yet." Li Sanqi smiled. "It is said that General Zhenguo's mansion submitted a memorial recommending Marquis Yongchang to lead troops to garrison the west."
"What did you say?" Lady Annam was shocked. Their household was eagerly awaiting the imperial decree, their appointment as magistrate, and their complete ascension to the rank of super-noble! How could such a momentous event be altered?
Immediately, Lady Annam could no longer stay and wanted to go back to find out the truth.
However, just as she was saying goodbye and leaving, Li Sanqi reminded her with a smile, "Madam Bo hasn't apologized to Madam Qiao and Madam Zheng yet. Isn't it inappropriate for her to leave like this?"
Although the Lady of Annan was unwilling, she was anxious to leave because she had something on her mind. She immediately bowed to Madam Min Qiao and Madam Zheng and apologized, saying, "I just can't control my mouth. I said some unpleasant things today and made the two of you unhappy."
"I apologize to both of you. I hope you two ladies will forgive my foul mouth and not hold it against me."
Madam Zheng glanced at Madam Min. This matter actually had nothing to do with her; it mainly depended on Madam Min's attitude.
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