Chapter 467 Execution three days later, family genealogy opened on the same day.
After seeing off Madam Zheng, Qiao Qinghe received visits from two groups of people from the Earl of Enping's residence and the Marquis of Yongning's residence.
She really did come with Lady Yongning.
More than half a month later, when we met again, she really seemed like a completely different person. Dressed in a well-tailored brocade dress, she exuded the dignified and serene demeanor of a noble lady, with graceful manners and proper speech. Where was there even a trace of the Zhen she used to be?
Qiao Qinghe was taken aback, her mouth agape for a long time.
It was only when Lady Yongning covered her mouth and chuckled that Qiao Qinghe snapped out of her shock.
"You must have been frightened, Madam?" Lady Yongning said with a smile. "I was startled too. This girl changes so quickly, both in personality and behavior, she has changed completely."
"I thought she was just being silly and playing a prank on me. But guess what happened?"
Qiao Qinghe looked at Zhen Huan and said with a wry smile, "Zhen Huan has gone to Da Xi and now he knows the importance of status and position, right?"
"You're absolutely right!" Lady Yongning said happily, "This trip to Da'e was truly worthwhile! She's finally settled down and is willing to stay by my side as the young lady of the Marquis's mansion. My heart is finally at ease!"
Qiao Qinghe was also happy for Lady Yongning, but... "Does the Marquis of Yongning know that Zhen Huan has returned to the manor?"
It turns out that Zhen Huan really did kill Yu Yin'er and Madam Yu. Back then, the Lady of Yongning Marquis had Zhen Huan accompany her to Huizhou precisely to avoid the Marquis of Yongning.
Lady Yongning suppressed her smile and said in a deep voice, "He is leading troops in the field, and I haven't told him about this yet."
“Once the Earl of Enping returns from Shang’an, he should be heading back to the capital.”
"However, Madam, you don't need to worry. I will protect Zhen Huan."
If Marquis Yongning can forget the past and treat Zhen Huan well, then things will be fine.
If he dares to bring up the past, she will never let him off the hook!
Ha, she has three sons and the entire Marquis of Yongning as her support!
Now, everyone in the Yongning Marquis's mansion is of one mind with her; the Yongning Marquis is the only outsider!
"That's good." Hearing Lady Yongning say that, Qiao Qinghe was relieved.
Just then, Zhen, who had been silent all along, finally spoke up.
"Madam, Ajiu's ashes are still with me. Should I hand them over to you, or should I find a place to bury them myself?"
The mention of Ajiu caused Qiao Qinghe's heart to clench slightly.
After a moment's pause, she said, "Leave it to me. I'll have someone find her an auspicious burial site so she can rest in peace."
Mentioning Ajiu, she couldn't help but think of Min Pan'er, who had killed Ajiu, and her eyes darkened.
She knew that the King of Chu would protect Min Pan'er, and Emperor Xiaozhao would not allow anything to happen to Min Pan'er for the time being.
Because Min Pan'er was one of only two people besides her who had contact with Da Yi and Min Ji.
***
Meanwhile, in the palace, Emperor Xiaozhao listened to the reports from his subordinates while desperately suppressing his anger. However, after enduring for a long time, he finally couldn't hold back.
"Useless! A grown, living person, just gone like that?"
Liu Xin wiped the fine sweat from his forehead and explained with trepidation, "According to the information from both the Imperial Guards and the spies, the beggar who was brought back to the Min family by Min Pan'er has indeed never left the Min family residence."
"But people just disappear inexplicably like that."
"During the raid, the Imperial Guards and spies searched the Min family's house meticulously no less than ten times, but they still couldn't find the beggar."
"I don't believe that such a large living person can just disappear into thin air."
Emperor Xiaozhao threw the memorial in his hand to the ground and said, "Go, have people dig three feet into the ground and find the Min family."
"Yes." Liu Xin was inwardly seething with bitterness.
The Imperial Guards and the spies both said there was no secret room or secret passage. They even ransacked the Min family garden, drained the pond, and carefully searched the bottom of the pond for mud.
No means no!
Where can I go to seek justice?
After calming himself down, Emperor Xiaozhao inquired about Min Rong's situation.
"Has anyone suspicious approached Min Rong in the last few days?"
Liu Xin shook his head, "Aside from the prison guards who deliver meals as usual, no suspicious persons have been found to have approached Min Rong."
Emperor Xiaozhao frowned. "It seems that Min Ji will not be showing up."
Since Grandma Qiao's method didn't work, there was no need for him to keep Min Rong any longer.
"Have the Min clan members from Huizhou been escorted to the capital?"
"They arrived the day before yesterday afternoon, a total of eight people, and are currently being held in the Dali Temple prison."
"Alright, issue the decree: the entire Min family shall be executed in three days."
Emperor Xiaozhao thought for a moment and added, "By the way, send someone to inform Old Madam Qiao that it is my decree to have her open the ancestral hall in three days to change the surname of the Min family descendants and add them to the Qiao family genealogy."
"Yes. This old servant will take care of it immediately."
Soon, the news that the Min family would be executed in three days spread throughout the streets and alleys.
Along with this news, the news that Qiao Qinghe would open a new Qiao family genealogy on the same day that the Min family members were executed, and that the Min family descendants would be renamed and officially recorded in the Qiao family genealogy.
Once the news spread, in less than half a day, Qiao Qinghe, the Qinghe Madam, became someone despised by thousands and scorned by tens of thousands.
What about abandoning each other in times of trouble, what about being afraid of death, what about kicking away the ladder after crossing the river, and being ungrateful...
Almost every derogatory term has been used to describe Qiao Qinghe.
Those who agreed to change their surname, such as Min Changzhong and Min Changli, also became the targets of criticism.
Furthermore, some aloof scholars and scheming individuals gathered outside the Qiao residence, inciting public anger and loudly cursing Qiao Qinghe and others.
The servants in the mansion received the news and only peeked out of the doorway before someone smeared their faces with rotten vegetable leaves.
After receiving the news, Qiao Qinghe wasn't angry at all; she just gave a helpless, bitter smile.
It goes without saying that Emperor Xiaozhao was deliberately using her as bait to see if he could lure out Min Ji.
It seems that since there was no movement from Min Ji's side, Emperor Xiaozhao did not want to wait any longer.
So I'm going to set one last fire to see if it will have any effect.
All she could do was cooperate.
"Grandma, are you just going to leave those people outside alone?" Amo asked, somewhat frustrated.
"Never mind." Qiao Qinghe thought for a moment, then said, "You quietly go out the back door later and go find Chen San yourself. Ask him to send a few beggars over to keep an eye on things. Also, ask him to help you find out who's behind this farce at the gate."
"Yes. I'll go right away."
As soon as Amo left, another gatekeeper came in to report: "Old Madam, Third Madam has arrived with her child."
"Is he alright? Quickly, bring him in."
Before long, Feng Yuerou arrived with her two children.
"Why are you here at this time?" Before Feng Yuerou could greet her, Qiao Qinghe quickly stepped forward to check on Feng Yuerou and the two children.
"There's a group of people causing trouble outside the gate. Were you not caught in the crossfire?"
“Mother, don’t worry, we’re fine.” Feng Yuerou pulled Qiao Qinghe back to the main seat and then explained, “When we came, we saw people causing trouble at the entrance, so we went around to the back door.”
After saying that, Feng Yuerou looked at Qiao Qinghe with a worried expression, "Mother, are you alright? Should we call the city guards to drive those people outside away?"
Qiao Qinghe shook her head. "No need."
Qiao Qinghe didn't want to dwell on the topic, so she asked, "Did you hear the rumors and come to see me? But you shouldn't have brought the child along. It's so dangerous!"
Feng Yuerou explained with a smile, "Actually, it's not entirely because I'm worried about Mother. More importantly, I wanted to come and ask Mother if she has chosen names for the two children yet?"
"Just a reminder to Mother, we can't be left out of such an important event as opening the family genealogy in three days!"
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