Chapter 323 The Third Prince Wants to Break Off the Engagement
Although she and Lady Annam were sworn enemies, she still felt that Lady Annam's feelings for Feng Yuerou were far deeper than Feng Yuerou herself thought.
This can be seen from the actions of the Duchess of Annam after the day of the public trial.
Although Feng Yuerou sided with her and opposed Lady Annan in court, Lady Annan later brought a royal physician to Feng Yuerou's home to treat her illness. She also brought people to help with Min Hui's funeral arrangements, relieving Feng Yuerou of worries.
Furthermore, he sent several illegitimate sons far away from the capital and removed several illegitimate daughters from the Feng family genealogy, so that Feng Yuerou would have no more worries.
All these events demonstrate that Lady Annam truly cared for her youngest daughter, Feng Yuerou.
However, Feng Yuerou remained unmoved.
She originally thought that after she left, perhaps Lady Annan could become Feng Yuerou's support.
However, since Feng Yuerou herself remained unmoved, she, as an outsider, had even less reason to speak up for her enemy.
"Never mind, if you need anything in the future, just go to your older and younger sisters. I'll tell them to take better care of you."
"Thank you for your concern, Mother. After you leave, I will stay home and live a quiet life, waiting for the children to be born. I will raise them myself." Feng Yuerou whispered her plan.
Fortunately, with the excuse of observing mourning for Min Hui, she could stay home and not see guests for three to five years without anyone being able to find fault with her.
"That's good then." Madam Min Qiao nodded reassuringly. "If you need anything, you can go to Yang An and his wife. They are currently managing the businesses in the capital and surrounding areas for me. If you need anything, just go to them."
"Thank you, Mother."
After speaking privately with Feng Yuerou, Madam Min Qiao said some words of advice to everyone, wishing them all the best. Seeing that the five carriages that had left earlier had returned to the group and the meticulously arranged escort team was in place, she bid farewell to everyone and boarded the carriage again.
As the carriage slowly drove away, Madam Min Qiao heard Feng Yuerou crying outside the carriage, as well as Min Yuexi and Su Rongrong's comforting voices.
She sat by the carriage window, waved goodbye to everyone, and only after the carriage had gone far away did she lower the curtain and sit back in her seat.
Only then did she notice that Ah Shuang, sitting on the other side, had tears in her eyes. Even Zhen Huan seemed somewhat listless, clearly reluctant to leave the capital.
Seeing that Madam Min Qiao's expression was normal, without any sadness or reluctance, A Shuang couldn't help but ask, "Grandma, no, old lady, we're leaving the capital. Aren't you sad at all?"
Madam Min smiled. "Why should I be sad? The capital is nothing but a cage to me. I might be happier living outside of the capital."
***
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace, in Li Sanqi's Yi'an Hall, the Third Prince arrived uninvited.
"Haven't you been avoiding me these past few days, Third Brother? What brings you here today?"
As soon as the Third Prince entered, Li Sanqi began to mock him in a sarcastic tone.
Ever since Emperor Xiaozhao issued his decree, the Third Prince has been noticeably cold towards Li Sanqi. Occasionally when they bump into each other, he will give Li Sanqi a complicated look, say hello, and then leave without saying a single extra word.
Li Sanqi knew that the Third Prince was angry because he couldn't get help from Madam Min Qiao. He felt that he himself had ulterior motives in bringing him and Min Yuexi together.
Ultimately, the Third Prince's old habit of being suspicious has resurfaced, and coupled with his inability to see any benefits in marrying Min Yuexi, he's become somewhat emotional.
"Seventh Sister, you're joking. When did Third Brother avoid you? Third Brother has just been unwell these days and was afraid of passing on his illness to you, so he hasn't dared to have much contact with you. How could you misunderstand Third Brother's good intentions?"
The third prince wore a wronged expression, as if he had been misunderstood.
Li Sanqi pursed his lips, not wanting to waste any more words with Li Chengrui, and asked directly, "Third Brother, you don't come here without a reason. What brings you here today?"
Li Chengrui wanted to explain further, but seeing Li Sanqi's indifferent expression, he gave up and asked directly, "Is Madam Qiao leaving the capital today?"
Li Sanqi didn't know what Li Chengrui was planning, but he still answered truthfully, "Yes."
"Isn't Seventh Sister a close friend of Madam Qiao? Why didn't Seventh Sister go out of the palace to see Madam Qiao off when she left the capital?"
"Madam Qiao, oh no, Old Madam Qiao was stripped of her title and banished from the capital by imperial decree. If I were to go and see her off now, wouldn't that be going against the emperor?"
Li Sanqi looked at Li Chengrui with an expression as if he were an idiot. "What? Does Third Brother really want me to be disliked by Father?"
Upon hearing Li Sanqi's words, Li Chengrui showed no anger; instead, his eyes lit up.
"Seventh Sister is right. In that case, if I were to marry the eldest daughter of the Min family, wouldn't that also displease Father Emperor?"
Li Chengrui looked at Li Sanqi with anticipation, "Seventh Sister, could you help Third Brother again?"
Li Sanqi stopped pretending this time and rolled her eyes at Li Chengrui, "Third Brother, you don't want me to find a way to help you break off this engagement, do you?"
Li Chengrui didn't reply, but his eager eyes said it all.
Li Sanqi scoffed, "Third Brother, I always thought you were smart. I never imagined you'd be so foolish!"
Li Chengrui frowned, and his gaze toward Li Sanqi gradually turned cold.
Li Sanqi, however, acted as if he hadn't seen it and continued, "Putting aside the fact that this marriage was decreed by the Emperor! How can you just cancel it if you want to?"
"Take Miss Min for example. Are you sure that after breaking off the engagement with her, you can find another noblewoman who can rival Miss Zhong?"
Li Chengrui frowned, his expression displeased, but he still patiently said, "Qiao, the old lady has already left the capital. What value does Miss Min still have?"
"stupid!"
No sooner had Li Chengrui finished speaking than Li Sanqi retorted without any politeness, "Third Brother, didn't you ever think that Old Madam Qiao's departure is actually a good thing for Miss Min and for Third Brother himself?"
What do you mean?
"Old Mrs. Qiao has passed away, but her connections in Beijing remain."
"With her gone, are these relationships truly over?"
"No! These relationships will not only not be severed, but will actually be transferred to Miss Min!"
"Third Brother probably doesn't know yet, but when Miss Min went out of the city to see off Old Madam Qiao today, she rode in the carriage of the Earl of Enping."
Li Sanqi looked at Li Chengrui with a half-smile, "Third Brother, have you ever heard that the Lady of Enping and Miss Min are on good terms?"
Upon hearing these words, Li Chengrui's eyes lit up, and the wrinkles between his brows were effortlessly smoothed out without him even noticing.
He stood up and bowed deeply to Li Sanqi, saying, "I was too naive! I apologize to my seventh sister."
Li Sanqi scoffed, "Third Brother, I'm not the one who should apologize! Our relationship is nothing more than an exchange of interests. What has Miss Min done to wrong you that you treat her with such disdain?"
"Third brother, don't forget, it was you who asked Father to issue an imperial decree for the marriage! Miss Min didn't come here wanting to marry you!"
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