Chapter 125 Something Happened in the Capital
When my father was seriously ill, my mother did indeed have suicidal thoughts, and even I, her daughter, couldn't stop her from wanting to die.
It was around that time that my second brother reunited with them.
The second brother also told their mother that the eldest brother hadn't actually died either.
This was because his affair with his elder brother was a top secret of the Qiao family. No one else in the Qiao family, except their father and the head of the family, was allowed to know.
Therefore, the only people who knew that the two brothers were still alive, besides their deceased grandfather and father, were their current uncle.
When my mother learned that my two older brothers had been sent to become assassins by my father himself, she hated him intensely. She no longer cared whether he lived or died!
So, when her father lied to her before he died, trying to make her resent her aunt, her mother went along with her father and uncle, pretending to hate her aunt terribly. Afterwards, she even used her aunt as the cause of her illness, occasionally having fits of madness. These past years have been relatively smooth.
However, now that I'm going to the capital with my aunt, my mother's illness is really putting me in a bit of an awkward position.
Zhou glared at her daughter, annoyed. "You've gone off to the Autumn Water Nunnery to enjoy some peace and quiet. But your mother has to stay at the Qiao family's house and pretend to be crazy every now and then. You little ungrateful thing, how can you still laugh?"
Qiao Yuanyao turned and hugged Zhou Shi, saying with a grin, "This idea wasn't mine, Mother, you can't blame me for it."
He glanced meaningfully at Qiao Jingyao as he spoke.
Qiao Jingyao shook his head helplessly and got back to the point: "Mother, don't worry. My uncle told me before that he wanted me to secretly come and recognize you, to explain the whole story, so that you can get over your resentment and stop hating your aunt."
"You just need to pretend to recover slowly."
Zhou pursed her lips. "Would your uncle be so kind as to let me and Yuanyao leave? And even agree to let you come and reunite with me?"
If they were so kind, the second wife wouldn't have been separated from her son for so many years!
God knows, ever since she learned the truth about her two sons faking their deaths, her resentment towards the Qiao family has grown day by day with the length of time she has been separated from her sons!
Qiao Jingyao gave a wry smile, hesitated slightly, but still truthfully voiced his guess.
“I think my aunt’s return this time had a great impact on my uncle! It was also my uncle who suggested that my mother and younger sister go to the capital with my aunt.”
At this point, Qiao Jingyao paused, looking hesitant, and said, "Actually, I was quite surprised when my uncle said that."
"Hmph! What good intentions could he possibly have?" Zhou Shi simply didn't believe it.
Qiao Yuanyao, however, did not want to think too much about it and interrupted the two with a smile, saying, "Who cares what they're up to? As long as it's not a bad thing for us, that's fine."
“Actually, I think it’s quite good to go to the capital with my aunt.” Qiao Yuanyao hugged Zhou Shi and said affectionately, “I won’t have to be separated from my mother anymore.”
Zhou smiled, took her daughter's arm, and nodded, saying, "Alright, we'll go to the capital with your aunt later."
***
The three members of the Qiao family's second branch, mother and sons, have made a decision. Madam Min has also spoken to the Qiao family elders about her urgent need to return to the capital.
"Why so suddenly?" Old Master Qiao was both shocked and reluctant. "You've been married for over thirty years and this is the only time you've come back. Why can't you stay a little longer? It's only been a short time. Why are you in such a hurry to return to the capital?"
Even Grandma Qiao couldn't help but show her reluctance, echoing, "That's right! It took you more than a month just to come back, and another two months to get back. You've only been home for less than three months. Don't you feel like you've lost out?"
"Why don't we stay a few more months before we leave?"
Min Qiaoshi originally planned to stay for a longer period of time after returning this time.
When she left Beijing, she was determined to stay out of things in the capital!
Unfortunately, what Wei Jia said in her letter this time had really blown up too much! She had no choice but to rush back!
Thinking of this, Madam Min Qiao did not hide the urgent matter in the capital, and said with a tone of anger and helplessness, "I don't want to leave so soon either, but I have to rush back to the capital!"
"My parents don't know, my eldest daughter-in-law is a simpleton..."
Suppressing her anger, Madam Min Qiao recounted the whole story.
Ever since Min Qiao left the capital, Min Rong and his wife Wu were criticized by many people in the capital for not knowing about her departure.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, He criticized Wu and Min Qiao, putting on an indignant act to defend Wu and Min Rong.
Although Wu felt wronged, she also felt that He's words made sense. However, because of He's past behavior, she still did not give her a kind look.
But He was patient and eager to mend her relationship with Wu. She sent gifts and helped Wu do business to make money, making it impossible for Wu to refuse He's flattery.
Fortunately, Min Yuexi was watching over Wu, and Wu did not get too close to He.
It wasn't until He told Min Yuexi about Tang Yunxiu's marriage that Wu was finally "moved" by He.
Actually, at first, Mrs. He refused the marriage proposal.
Unfortunately, Lu Ming, whom Min Yuexi broke off her engagement with, became the new top scholar in the imperial examination, while Tang Yunxiu, introduced by Madam He, only became a second-class scholar.
She initially broke off the engagement with the grandson of a high-ranking official, but what happened? Good heavens, she got someone even worse than Lu Ming!
It would be strange if Wu were willing to agree.
However, man proposes, God disposes.
Ms. Wu was unwilling, but Min Yuexi agreed anyway, and even tried to persuade her to agree.
This is a mess.
Afterwards, seeing that her daughter was genuinely happy, Wu gradually accepted the marriage. She also softened her attitude towards He, the matchmaker.
When Madam He proposed that, in addition to the portion allocated to the Marquis's mansion, she would personally contribute an extra thousand taels to Min Yuexi's dowry, Madam Wu was completely won over by Madam He's "goodwill."
After that, although the two were not as close as sisters, their relationship became much more harmonious.
It wasn't until the news broke that Min Yuerui was to be betrothed to the grandson of the Minister of Works that Wu realized she had been tricked.
He immediately went to He's courtyard and had a huge fight with her.
Min Yuexi was initially skeptical of He's kindness these past few days, but after this matter came to light, she lowered her guard. She even offered a few words of advice to Wu.
After all, even if the Minister of Works' grandson doesn't marry Min Yuerui, he won't marry her again.
After thinking about it, Wu realized that this was indeed the case, and immediately dropped the matter.
But she was still uncomfortable in her heart, and didn't give He a kind look afterward.
Perhaps feeling guilty, Madam He acted as if she couldn't see Madam Wu's displeasure, constantly fawning over her and later sending many fine gifts to Min Yuexi as part of her dowry. She even offered Madam Wu advice, saying that although Tang Yunxiu was not of high birth, if someone of high status and position could be sent to propose marriage on behalf of the Tang family, outsiders would not dare to say that Min Yuexi had married poorly.
Wu thought about it and realized that made perfect sense.
Afterwards, He acted as a go-between, introducing Wu to Yu, the niece-in-law of Madam Zheng of the Duke of Jin's mansion. Led by Yu, Wu went to the Duke of Jin's mansion with gifts.
As for the purpose, it was naturally to have Madam Zheng step forward and represent the Tang family to propose marriage at the Marquis of Xuanping's residence.
When Madam Zheng learned that Wu was brought by Madam Yu, she was initially reluctant. However, after mentioning Madam Min Qiao, Madam Zheng reluctantly agreed.
However, none of the above is the main point!
The key point is that after Madam Yu and Madam Wu left, Madam Zheng inadvertently ate the pastries that Madam Wu brought her, and immediately became poisoned, vomited blood, and fell into a coma!
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