Chapter 398 Qiao Jingyuan Did Not Betray?
When Madam Min saw Min Ji draw his knife, her heart skipped a beat. But that was all.
She stood at the door, quietly watching Min Ji, without even frowning.
It wasn't that she wasn't afraid, but she knew that given Min Ji's personality, he wouldn't hurt himself, and probably wouldn't do anything to her either.
Therefore, Madam Min's lips curled up almost imperceptibly.
It seems there's only one target left to be targeted.
Qiao Jingyuan.
Sure enough, the next moment, she saw Min Ji, who was playing with the dagger in his hand, stab Qiao Jingyuan in the abdomen with a backhand.
Fresh blood gushed out, gradually staining Qiao Jingyuan's clothes around his abdomen.
Qiao Jingyuan didn't even frown. He only grabbed the dagger quickly when Min Ji finished stabbing and let go.
If he were to pull out a dagger without any preparation, he would most likely bleed to death.
Therefore, it's best not to let the dagger come out of the wound until you have prepared hemostatic medicine and clean cloth strips.
"That's it?" Madam Min looked at Min Ji with a half-smile and sneered, "You wouldn't be thinking of using Qiao Jingyuan's life to blackmail me, would you?"
"Heh, you think I'd fall for that?"
Why would Min Ji think that a scoundrel who betrayed his country and betrayed his country would feel sorry for him? Would he compromise for him?
Is it simply because he is her nephew?
Thinking of this, Madam Min Qiao smiled and shook her head, saying sarcastically, "Min Ji, Min Ji, when did you become so childish?"
"He's just a complete idiot who can't distinguish right from wrong, let alone my nephew. Even if he were my own son, he'd be dead if he died. Do you think I'd care?"
At this point, Madam Min glanced at Qiao Jingyuan and said to Min Ji with a smile, "Hehe, you stabbed me in the back well! I wanted to stab him when he was trying to persuade me before. You've actually helped me out."
"Of course, I'd be even happier if you could cut yourself a couple of times too!"
"Hahaha... Alright, that's enough. I've said my piece, and I've had my fill of the show. It's time to go back."
However, just as Madam Min Qiao was about to turn and leave, Min Ji said with a leisurely smile, "Mrs. Qiao, you're over thirty years old, and you're still so self-righteous!"
"You don't really believe that Qiao Jingyuan betrayed the Qiao family, betrayed Dayan, and betrayed you, do you?"
Min Qiao's heart skipped a beat. She slowly stopped and turned around.
Her expression was calm, with a hint of sarcasm on her lips. She said disdainfully, "Are you planning to use Qiao Jingyuan to play the victim with me?"
Min Ji was neither angry nor did he answer Min Qiao Shi. Instead, he glanced at Qiao Jingyuan and said with certainty, "Qiao Jingyuan, you are very smart! You discovered that I had already betrayed Dayan and Emperor Xiaozhao from the very first day you arrived in Da'e, didn't you?"
Qiao Jingyuan did not speak.
Min Ji continued, "You know how much power I wield in Da'an. Crushing you is as easy as crushing an ant."
"As you know, the moment you arrived in Xijing, you were already mired in a quagmire. The secret agent organization that I have firmly in control is simply unable to transmit any real information back to you."
"Therefore, you endured and lay low, seemingly unintentionally expressing your closeness to me. Until I recruited you, you went with the flow and swore to follow my lead."
"But Qiao Jingyuan, do you think you can fool me with such a little trick?"
The dagger was still stuck in his abdomen, and blood was still flowing out. Qiao Jingyuan's face had turned deathly pale.
He endured the pain and said with difficulty, "My lord, you have misunderstood me. I am truly loyal to you. Otherwise, I would not have persuaded my aunt for your sake."
Min Ji shook his head. "You persuaded Qiao Shi not to make her obey me, but simply to protect her."
"You know, it would be too easy for my Pingyan Marquis's mansion to kill an unknown old lady from out of town in Xijing City."
Qiao Jingyuan's face paled even more, but he still insisted, "You said you wouldn't hurt my aunt or my family."
“I did say that,” Min Ji readily admitted, but then changed the subject, “but that was on the premise that you were truly loyal to me.”
"So, are you truly loyal to me?"
"I..." Qiao Jingyuan was about to say yes.
But Min Ji interrupted him mercilessly, "If you are truly loyal to me, then why did you let your second brother take the Qiao family back to Dayan?"
“I remember saying that someone should bring the Qiao family to Xijing.”
"Ha, if I hadn't been prepared and sent Huailang to wander around various passes and towns, I'm afraid we wouldn't have attracted the Qiao family!"
Upon hearing this, Madam Min's expression, which had been watching the drama unfold, finally changed.
Yes, from the moment the old woodcutter found her, he had been trying his best to persuade her to return to Dayan.
She had already agreed, but if she hadn't met Ji Huailang, who looked exactly like Min Ji, she probably would have already returned to Dayan territory by now.
What she didn't expect was that even her chance encounter with Ji Huailang was arranged by Min Ji in advance!
At this moment, Madam Min Qiao once again realized just how skilled Min Ji was at scheming!
However, Qiao Jingyuan was still putting up a stubborn resistance, but his voice was already trembling slightly.
He said, "That was Old Woodcutter's own decision, not my order."
Min Ji smiled and shook his head, no longer paying attention to Qiao Jingyuan, and turned to look at Min Qiao Shi.
"Now, do you still think your nephew is rebellious?"
Min Qiaoshi composed herself and said in a detached tone, "I don't know if he's a traitor. I only know that I'm currently in Xijing, and he's become your hostage to blackmail me."
"Everyone is selfish. You're selfish, and I'm just as selfish."
Min Ji narrowed his eyes slightly, "What do you mean by that?"
With a bright smile, Madam Min said, "Qiao Jingyuan is a traitor, so I don't care about him. You naturally can't use him to blackmail me."
"So, I don't care whether he really betrayed Dayan or not, as long as I think he is a traitor, that's enough."
At this point, Madam Min Qiao gestured casually, "Do as you please, I won't keep you company."
After saying that, Madam Min Qiao left the study without lingering and walked out with firm and resolute steps.
Upon seeing her come out, Zhen Huan and Wei Jia, who were guarding the door, quickly came up to support her.
"Madam, are you alright?" Zhen asked with genuine concern.
Wei Jia looked at Min Qiao with a worried expression, "Did nothing happen?"
The next moment, Zhen and Wei Jia exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.
The old lady is trembling!
Although it was very slight, the two people supporting Min Qiaoshi still noticed it keenly.
"Let's talk about it when we get back."
Madam Min walked resolutely out of the mansion.
The two men said no more, and steadily supported Madam Min, one on each side.
Wang came out to try and persuade them to stay, but seeing that she couldn't, she warmly escorted them to the hanging flower gate before turning back.
The three of them left the Pingyan Marquis's residence, where the Qiao family's carriage, having been notified in advance, was already waiting at the gate.
Several people boarded the carriage, and it was about to depart.
Suddenly, a figure darted into the carriage.
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