Chapter 359 Forcibly Seizing the Dragon-Patterned Jade Pendant
Therefore, on this journey, the old woodcutter will lead a group to escort her to Xixi. Wenxiu will accompany her closely.
Of course, this trip couldn't have been limited to just a few people.
The rest depends on the arrangements made by the Min family before deciding whether to go with the caravan or hire a security escort.
In addition to accompanying personnel, a list of items that need to be brought should be made in advance for purchase.
In addition, should she write to inform the capital about her trip to Xixi? This is another issue that needs careful consideration before she leaves.
As the Min family said, this matter is of great importance and extremely confidential. Should she tell others about it?
But what if we don't tell her and she can't be contacted in the capital, and something goes wrong?
Min Qiao was caught in a dilemma.
***
It's unclear whether the Min family was eager to confirm their words or simply wished for Madam Min Qiao to depart as soon as possible. The day after returning from the Jiang residence, Old Madam Min arrived at the Qiao residence with the dragon-patterned jade pendant.
Once inside, Old Madam Min dismissed everyone around her, then took out the wooden box and handed it to Min Qiao.
"This is the jade pendant that Emperor Xiaozhao bestowed upon Min Ji."
Min Qiaoshi took the wooden box and gently opened it.
Sure enough, inside lay a translucent, lustrous white jade pendant with a dragon pattern.
Madam Min picked up the jade pendant and turned it from side to side, examining it carefully. Her casual movements made Old Madam Min's expression tense.
Madam Min naturally noticed Old Madam Min's nervousness, and her movements became increasingly casual.
Finally, Grandma Min couldn't help but remind her urgently, "Be careful, be careful not to drop the jade pendant!"
At this point, Madam Min Qiao finally confirmed that the jade pendant was indeed genuine.
Madam Min put the jade pendant back into the wooden box, and Old Madam Min finally felt relieved.
However, Madam Min Qiao did not close the wooden box, nor did she push it back to Old Madam Min. Instead, she placed one hand on the wooden box and intentionally or unintentionally stroked the jade pendant.
"May I ask, what is His Majesty's intention in bestowing this jade pendant?"
Grandma Min was taken aback, then frowned slightly. "Why are you asking this? You just need to confirm that this jade pendant is genuine."
Madam Min Qiao smiled. "What? You've kept Min Ji's faked death a secret from me for over ten years. Are you going to keep the function of this jade pendant a secret from me for another ten years?"
As she spoke, Madam Min Qiao took the jade pendant in her hand again, raised it high above her head, and looked up at it.
Grandma Min was startled by this action. "What are you doing?"
Don't think she can't see through it; what appears to be opening a jade pendant is actually a blatant threat.
She was certain that if she didn't reveal the purpose of the jade pendant, Madam Min would definitely pretend to have accidentally dropped it.
But she still didn't want to reveal the purpose of the jade pendant.
As Madam Min raised the jade pendant higher and higher, Old Madam Min was so frightened that she stood up and tried to snatch it away.
"Stop it right now!"
Unexpectedly, just as Old Madam Min's hand was about to touch the jade pendant, Madam Min Qiao suddenly pulled her arm back and stuffed the jade pendant into her bosom.
"Since the old lady won't say for sure, then I'll have to take the jade pendant and ask Min Ji myself."
“You…” Old Mrs. Min took a few deep breaths and glared fiercely at Min Qiao Shi, “You can’t take this jade pendant with you.”
Madam Min Qiao looked at Old Madam Min with a half-smile, waiting for her to give the answer she wanted.
As expected, Old Mrs. Min was ultimately defeated.
She sighed softly and said helplessly, "When Emperor Xiaozhao bestowed this jade pendant, he said that regardless of the success or failure of Min Ji's infiltration of Xixi, he would grant the Min family one favor."
"This jade pendant is the token."
After some thought, Madam Min realized that if the undercover operation succeeded, the Min family could receive a reward and be promoted to higher ranks based on the jade pendant.
Even if they fail, this jade pendant can preserve the Min family's current power and status, and wipe away the blame for their past crimes.
Therefore, this jade pendant can also be used as a get-out-of-jail-free card.
"I've explained the purpose of the jade pendant, can you return it to me now?"
Old Mrs. Min glared at Min Qiaoshi with displeasure. "This is the Min family's security, entrusted to me by Min Ji himself. Give it back to me immediately."
Madam Min Qiao pursed her lips. "Old Madam, I am Min Ji's wife, and our branch of the Xuanping Marquis's family are Min Ji's closest relatives. Shouldn't this jade pendant be entrusted to me for safekeeping?"
"As for your claim that Min Ji personally entrusted it to you for safekeeping, isn't that because he didn't tell me about his faked death?"
"Now that he has asked you to tell me about his faked death, the jade pendant should naturally be returned to me for safekeeping!"
“After all, I am his wife, and you are just his aunt. It’s obvious who is closer and who is more distant in our relationship.”
"You agree, right, ma'am?"
"You!!!" Old Mrs. Min was so angry that her chest heaved violently, and she almost fainted.
She had never seen such a shameless person!
This is blatant robbery!
"Grandma, please take it easy. Don't get so angry that you hurt yourself. Otherwise, I won't know how to explain it to Min Ji!"
As she spoke, Madam Min pretended to step forward to help Old Madam Min vent her anger, but Old Madam Min fiercely waved her hand away.
Grandma Min took a few deep breaths and it took her a while to recover.
She tried to calm herself down and warned in a cold tone, "Mrs. Qiao, this jade pendant is not something you should take. I advise you to return it to me immediately. Otherwise, you will not be able to leave Huizhou."
Min Qiaoshi feigned fear, shrank back slightly, and then sneered disdainfully, "Can't leave Huizhou? Then I won't leave. Anyway, I came to Huizhou to retire."
"If you hadn't talked so much nonsense yesterday, forcing me to send Min Pan'er to Xi'an, do you think I would have gone willingly?"
"I'm not just bored and looking for trouble, why would I travel such a long distance and make things difficult for myself?"
"Ha, don't even think I want to see Min Ji myself, bah! Min Ji has been dead for over ten years! Why would I still care about him!"
"I'm putting my words here today: you can send whoever you want to go to Xi'an. I'm not going!"
After saying this, Madam Min prepared to serve tea and see the guests off.
Grandma Min was furious again. She took deep breaths and, after a long while, said angrily, "Fine! Fine! Here's the jade pendant! When are you going to set off to take Pan'er to Xi'an?"
Anyway, that bitch won't survive in the Western Regions. We can just have someone bring the jade pendant back then.
Grandma Min tried her best to comfort herself and finally calmed down a little.
Madam Min smiled with satisfaction, "Oh dear, wouldn't it have been better if the old lady had been this understanding earlier?"
"I have no problem with going to Xixi. But I'm afraid the old lady will have to talk to Min Pan'er herself."
"I'm not going to be that villain."
"Besides, Min Pan'er ran away once before. If she runs away again on this journey west, you can't blame it on me."
Grandma Min narrowed her eyes slightly, looking at Min Qiao with suspicion, "You're not planning to let Min Pan'er run away halfway, are you?"
I advise you not to!
"Otherwise, if Min Ji's plans in Xixi fail because of you, and it affects the important matter of Dayan's conquest of Xixi, you wouldn't have enough heads to cut off!"
Madam Min Qiao glanced at Old Madam Min with a half-smile, "Old Madam, there's no need to scare me. I'm not afraid of threats or intimidation at all."
Anyway, she's already died once, so the worst that can happen is she'll die again.
“If Min Pan’er doesn’t run away, I will naturally send her to Xi’an as agreed.”
"If she runs away halfway, I can't guarantee that my men can catch her. After all, my men are human too, and humans need rest. It's impossible for them to keep a close watch on her every single hour of the day."
Old Mrs. Min felt that she had come to see Min Qiaoshi today just to suffer.
Listen to this utter nonsense!
Why can't we have someone watching over us for twelve hours a day?
It's not like we're just having one person keep an eye on things; we're sending several people to take turns watching. Don't you even know that?
To put it bluntly, Min Qiao did this on purpose!
He deliberately picked a fight with her, deliberately said things to provoke her, deliberately made her anxious...
“Alright! I will personally talk to Min Pan’er about the journey to the west, and I will also put an end to her thoughts of running away, so that she will obediently follow you to the west.”
"Is this alright now?"
Madam Min smiled, "Then I'll have to trouble you, old lady."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com