Chapter 425 Min Qiao's Scheme
This stab stunned Min Ji, as well as Wei Jia and Zhen Huan.
Madam Min wiped the blood from her hands. "I've wanted to stab you for a long time! But the first two times, either I didn't bring a knife, or the timing wasn't right. Today, you've delivered yourself to my doorstep. The timing and circumstances are perfect. If I don't stab you, I'll be wasting this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
He actually instinctively stayed by Min Qiao's side to prevent any unexpected accidents.
Wei Jia said anxiously, "Madam, we can't let Marquis Pingyan die in our mansion!"
Just then, three figures swept into the flower hall.
The two who entered first, one bent down to check on Min Ji's condition, while the other stared intently at Min Qiao Shi.
Old Woodcutter, who entered half a step later than the two, immediately stood in front of Min Qiaoshi.
Just as Min Ji's guards were about to fight with the old woodcutter, Madam Min Qiao smiled and reminded him, "Why don't you hurry up and take your lord back to see a doctor?"
The man who had bent down to check on Min Ji put a pill in Min Ji's mouth, gave his wound a quick treatment, then bent down to pick Min Ji up and said to the other man, "Let's go!"
Soon, the two guards led Min Ji away from the Qiao residence.
The old woodcutter said worriedly, "Are we just going to let them leave like this? Marquis Pingyan was injured in our manor. Won't we be in trouble?"
He even chimed in, "It would be great if we could kill them."
Unfortunately, she and the old woodcutter were no match for the two of them.
The main problem is that she's too weak.
Unlike the two men who were filled with worry, Wei Jia, after her initial panic, calmed down and carefully considered Min Qiao's intentions, becoming remarkably composed.
Madam Min Qiao glanced at Wei Jia and asked with a smile, "Have you guessed my intention?"
Wei Jia nodded slightly. "Jing Yuan went to the Crown Prince's residence to turn himself in. If something happens to Marquis Pingyan at the Qiao residence right now, and if Marquis Pingyan's people do something to the Qiao residence, I'm afraid the Crown Prince's suspicion of Marquis Pingyan will be amplified infinitely!"
Madam Min nodded in satisfaction. "Only by sowing discord between the ruler and his minister can we survive."
"Only if the Crown Prince no longer trusts Min Ji can Min Ji's subsequent plans against Dayan be abandoned."
"But, wouldn't we get into big trouble by openly injuring Marquis Pingyan like this?" Zhen Huan couldn't help but worry. "Should we run away before the people from Marquis Pingyan's residence come looking for us?"
As she spoke, she added, "Didn't Sister Weijia prepare a stand-in for the old lady a long time ago?"
"How about we have Steward Qiao escort the old lady away, and I'll stay behind to give guidance and assist that stand-in?"
Madam Min patted Zhen Huan's hand and comforted her, "Don't worry, it's not time for me to leave yet."
***
Min Ji returned to the manor injured. Before the manor physician removed the knife from his body, he instructed Wang Shi to keep the news of his injury a secret.
Wang clenched her handkerchief, bit her lip, and forced herself to suppress her anger and resentment before nodding in agreement.
Min Ji felt a sense of relief, but before the physician could draw his sword, he fainted.
"What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and treat the Marquis's injuries!"
Madam Wang was both shocked and anxious, and urged the physician in a stern voice.
The physician dared not delay and immediately went to treat the patient.
After a flurry of activity—pulling out the knife, stopping the bleeding, cleaning, bandaging—Min Ji's injury was finally treated.
"How is the situation?" Wang asked anxiously.
The physician wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and quickly reported, "The Marquis will be fine once he wakes up."
"How did the Marquis wake up?" Madam Wang pressed again.
The physician shook his head with a troubled expression. "It's uncertain. It could take as little as half a day, or as long as ten days or half a month."
Madam Wang frowned and waved for the physician to leave and write a prescription.
The subsequent preparation of medicine and decoction were handled by maids and servants.
Wang walked to the bedside, looked at Min Ji's pale face, turned around and left, summoning the two guards who had escorted Min Ji back.
"What exactly happened to the Marquis's injury?" Wang Shi suppressed her anger and questioned in a deep voice, "Didn't the Marquis go to the Qiao residence? How could he have returned injured?"
"Who exactly injured the Marquis?"
The guard reported, "The Marquis's wound was likely inflicted by Old Madam Qiao."
"Shouldn't you be guarding the Marquis closely? Didn't you see the murderer?" Madam Wang's expression hardened. "Shouldn't you be protecting the Marquis closely? Didn't you see the murderer?"
Guard B replied, "The Marquis ordered us to stand guard outside the hall, and at the time, guards from the Qiao family were also constantly preventing us from approaching the flower hall. Therefore, we did not witness the Marquis being injured."
"By the time we realized something was wrong with the Marquis, he was already injured."
"waste!"
Wang grabbed a teacup and threw it at the two guards, yelling, "What use are you two?"
Wang took a deep breath, suppressed her anger, and coldly snorted, "Actually, even without asking, I could guess that it's nothing more than Qiao Shi and the people around her."
"It all comes down to the Qiao family's wishes!"
The two guards lowered their heads and remained silent. "You already know, why ask?"
Just then, Madam Wang suddenly ordered the two men, "Go, take ten guards and thirty soldiers and surround the Qiao residence! As long as the Marquis remains unconscious, no one is allowed to enter or leave!"
"If you dare let even one mosquito escape, you'll all come back with your heads!"
The two looked at each other, their expressions full of difficulty.
After a long pause, Guard A cautiously said, "Madam, before the Marquis slipped away, he instructed you to keep the news under wraps and not to act rashly."
Upon hearing this, Wang nearly ground her teeth to powder.
What does Min Ji mean?
Qiao nearly killed him, yet he insisted on covering it up for her.
"You bastard!"
Madam Wang slammed her hand on the table and angrily rebuked, "The doctor said it's uncertain when the Marquis will wake up."
"If he remains unconscious for ten days or half a month, what should we do when the three-day deadline given by the Crown Prince is reached?"
"If we don't bring Qiao under control in time and she escapes, how will the Pingyan Marquis's mansion explain itself to the Crown Prince's wrath?"
"Is it true that Min Ji was assassinated and has fallen into a coma?"
"Then let me ask you, who is the murderer? Where is the murderer? You need to give me an explanation!"
"Do you think we can convince the Crown Prince with just our words and the sound of our lips?"
"But……"
The two guards tried to stop them again, but were interrupted angrily by Madam Wang, "There are no buts! The Marquis is unconscious, and the Heir Apparent has gone to the border. Now I am in charge of all matters in the Marquis's mansion!"
"Just do as I say!"
At this point, Madam Wang gave the two of them a dangerous glare, "Or are you saying that you don't even see me as your wife?"
"Your subordinates wouldn't dare!" Since Madam Wang had already said so much, the two dared not stop her any further.
"Then why don't you take some men and surround the Qiao residence for me?"
"yes."
The two responded and left, quickly taking stock of their men before heading straight for the Qiao residence.
Soon, more than forty people surrounded the Qiao residence completely.
"Madam, the people from the Marquis of Pingyan's mansion have indeed surrounded our residence."
Upon receiving the news, Wei Jia immediately reported it to Madam Min Qiao.
Madam Min smiled. "Very good. Now, let's see how the Crown Prince reacts."
She knew without even guessing that this was definitely Wang's doing!
When Min Ji realized that he had been tricked, he would never act rashly, much less make such a foolish decision!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com