Chapter 578 Qiao Qinghe's Three Conditions
"I knew that when Qiao Yuexi gave birth, it would be the best time for me to make my move against her. Perhaps it would also be my only chance."
"Because once the child is born, Qiao Yuexi's position will be as solid as a rock and will never be shaken."
"And once Qiao Yuexi has recovered from giving birth, she will once again protect herself and her child from all danger."
"So, when she was giving birth, that was when I started to take action."
"However, because she managed her yard like an impregnable fortress, I had no way to intervene. So I have been unable to find an opportunity to bribe the people around her."
"Until the news of Madam Qiao's coma arrived."
“I started to create panic in the mansion little by little, making everyone feel that without the support of Old Madam Qiao, Princess Qiao Yuexi would fall out of favor. Meanwhile, my family was getting better and better.”
"Soon, I will be able to replace Qiao Yuexi and become the true mistress of the Qi Prince's Mansion!"
"In this way, I gradually won over the maids and servants around Qiao Yuexi."
“I bribed the midwife who was with Qiao Yuexi when she was still unconscious for a month.”
"...You all know what happened next."
"That's how it happened. I did it all. Because I was jealous and resentful, I killed Qiao Yuexi. It has nothing to do with anyone else!"
"Kill me or torture me, it's all up to you."
After uttering the last word, Consort Liu closed her eyes as if deflated.
After hearing Consort Liu's frank confession, the Liu family members all breathed a sigh of relief.
Consort Liu's complexion improved slightly.
Everyone else was just there as a spectator, watching the show without saying a word.
At this moment, everyone's attention was focused on Qiao Qinghe.
Consort Liu also looked at Qiao Qinghe, "Old Madam Qiao, the truth has come to light. Consort Liu was malicious and plotted to murder Princess Qi. Let her be given three feet of white silk to be buried with Princess Qi. What do you think?"
Qiao Qinghe nodded slightly, "Since Consort Hui has made her decision, I naturally have no objection."
"However, before dealing with Consort Liu, I have a few things to say."
Consort Liu frowned almost imperceptibly. "Please speak, Madam."
Qiao Qinghe stood up, scanned the room, and then slowly spoke: "Among the distinguished guests present, has anyone gone to the mourning hall to pay their respects to Princess Qi?"
Apart from Wei Jia, Su Rongrong, and Zhen Huan, no one else went.
Everyone fell silent for a moment.
Li Sanqi also looked embarrassed and said apologetically, "To be honest, it was all my oversight. I only knew that my third sister-in-law had passed away, but I did not receive any news of her death from the Prince Qi's mansion, nor did I receive any arrangements for the funeral."
Li Jingyue nodded in agreement: "Me too. At first, I thought the news was a rumor."
The shrewd and experienced Madam Zheng and Madam Yuan had already realized the seriousness of the situation. They exchanged a glance and then fell silent.
They finally realized the real reason they had been called here today.
The Qi Prince's mansion is rotten to the core!
Qiao Qinghe smiled sadly: "The dignified Princess Consort of Qi was murdered by a concubine! And after her death, she didn't even have a proper funeral!"
"I just want to ask, can Consort Liu really control everything in Prince Qi's mansion to this extent?"
Are the officials in the Prince's Palace just for show? Are the officials in the Ministry of Rites of the Imperial Court all blind and deaf?
"Or is all of this the will of Prince Qi and Consort Hui?"
Consort Liu's face darkened, and her tone carried a hint of anger. "Madam Qiao, just say what you want today. Why be so veiled and ambiguous?"
"I reiterate once again, the death of Princess Qi has nothing to do with me or Prince Qi."
"Consort Liu has been handling all the funeral arrangements for Princess Qi. Today is the first time I have left the palace in five years. Prince Qi is also deeply grieving over Princess Qi's death and is currently confined to his courtyard, not venturing out of his room!"
"I know that Madam Qiao is saddened by the death of Princess Qi. But Madam Qiao should not make unfounded speculations and slander out of anger."
"In this way, it will only cause pain to loved ones and joy to enemies."
"I hope that Madam will consider the child's sake and be more rational."
Everyone silently reviewed Consort Liu's words in their minds. Good heavens, she shirked responsibility, played the emotional card, and made threats... she said everything imaginable.
Qiao Qinghe, however, did not take it to heart.
She knew that Consort Liu was actually trying to negotiate with her by saying all this.
Consort Liu wanted her to shut up, to let the matter drop, and not to investigate the death of Princess Qi any further.
And she, of course, also had her own demands.
Therefore, she spoke calmly, "Since Consort Hui has asked me to make a request, then I will dare to speak."
Consort Liu nodded with a cold face: "Go on."
Qiao Qinghe glanced at Consort Liu, who was slumped on the ground, lifeless. "First, have Consort Liu go to the mourning hall of Princess Qi, offer incense, kowtow, and apologize."
This isn't an exaggeration. Consort Liu couldn't even save her own life, so what did a few kowtows matter?
Consort Liu readily agreed: "I will accept on her behalf."
Qiao Qinghe then continued, "Secondly, the funeral of Princess Qi must be conducted according to the standards for a princess. I do not expect Princess Qi to have a grand funeral, but we cannot deviate from the proper etiquette, lest her posthumous honor be diminished."
This matter is somewhat difficult to handle.
Logically, the first thing to do after the death of the Princess Consort of Qi was to announce her death.
The report was sent to the palace, the Ministry of Rites, and all households in the capital.
Then the Ministry of Rites sent people to handle the funeral arrangements, with the Prince's Mansion assisting.
However, all the regulations were disrupted from the very first step.
If you want to start over now, you'll inevitably be criticized and gossiped about.
However, Consort Liu hesitated only slightly before nodding in agreement.
"Can."
Qiao Qinghe glanced at Consort Liu again, hesitated for a moment, and ultimately decided not to make Consort Liu's death the third condition.
Consort Liu's fate was sealed.
But if she were to openly list this as part of her conditions, it would make her seem aggressive. It would also give others something to gossip about, as if she had driven Consort Liu to her death. It would be better to leave the matter to Consort Liu and her family to handle themselves.
Moreover, compared to Consort Liu's life, she had an even more important purpose to achieve today.
After careful consideration, Qiao Qinghe solemnly said, "One last request."
When Qiao Qinghe made her last request, everyone looked at her in surprise.
The two requests I just made are hardly any requests at all.
The Liu family, in particular, had originally thought that Qiao Qinghe would make unreasonable demands and propose things that would put Consort Liu Hui and the Liu family in a difficult position.
Unexpectedly, after Qiao Qinghe only made two insignificant requests, only one last request remained.
Based on the previous two conditions, the third condition shouldn't be too difficult.
Consort Liu and her family were all relieved.
The Crown Princess, Madam Yuan, Li Jingyue, and others who didn't know Qiao Qinghe were all dumbfounded, secretly thinking that Qiao Qinghe was too easy to talk to.
Only Wei Jia, Zhen Huan, and Li Sanqi, who truly understand Qiao Qinghe, know that Qiao Qinghe is holding back a big move!
Especially Wei Jia, who knew all of Qiao Qinghe's plans.
As everyone had different thoughts and reactions, Qiao Qinghe slowly stated her final condition.
"I want to take Princess Qi's child back to the Qiao residence and raise him myself."
Upon hearing this, the room fell silent.
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