Chapter 546 The Truth About Jiangnan
"Later, Steward Qiao inquired privately with others, trying to find out what had happened to the Qiao family, but to no avail."
"Everyone in Xincheng County is keeping quiet about this. Those who dare to speak out speculate that the Qiao family was besieged because the old lady offended many important figures in Jiangnan when she returned there. Now that the Xuanping Marquis's mansion has fallen, those people have started to retaliate against the Qiao family."
"The woodcutter naturally didn't believe this claim. But after several days of investigation, there was still no progress."
"Therefore, Steward Qiao decided to sneak into the Qiao family's old residence."
"Just in case, Steward Qiao only brought two of his trusted confidants. Chen Wu and I waited outside to provide backup."
“I personally witnessed Steward Qiao and his two companions sneaking into the Qiao family's residence, but they didn't come out for a long time after they went in.”
“We waited for three days. Just as we were discussing whether to send another person in to infiltrate and investigate, we saw a large number of garrison troops replace the government officials and soldiers and surround the Qiao residence.”
"Immediately afterwards, the garrison commander announced to the public that the Qiao family was plotting a rebellion and assassinating the imperial envoy. Then I saw Steward Qiao and two of his trusted confidants being captured by the garrison."
"There were more than a dozen other people arrested along with them. I could tell that they, like Steward Qiao and his men, were highly skilled individuals who had undergone specialized training."
"Chen Wu and I mingled in the crowd and watched them being taken away. Only then did we realize that it was all a trap!"
"Chen Wu and I left Xincheng County that day and headed to the capital."
"As a result, before we even left Hangzhou, Chen Wu died. I was also seriously injured and fell into the water, but luckily escaped with my life."
After recounting the events in one breath, Amo said anxiously, "Madam, they want to pin the blame for the assassination of the imperial envoy on the Qiao family."
"In that case, you will also be implicated!"
After listening to Amo's account and combining it with her own speculations, Qiao Qinghe finally understood everything that had happened to the Qiao family.
Emperor Xiaozhao was about to take action against Jiangnan, and the people there naturally wouldn't sit idly by and wait to die.
The imperial envoy's journey south was naturally aimed at finding evidence of the crimes committed by the group of people in Jiangnan.
Therefore, the imperial envoy had to die.
The Qiao family became the scapegoats.
As for bringing Old Madam Qiao and the others to the capital... on the surface, it seems like they're there to cause her trouble, but in reality, their real purpose is to trick Qiao Jingyao into returning to Jiangnan.
As for the reason, it's naturally because Qiao Jingyao was once the leader of an assassin organization!
Perhaps, there was another reason why those people allowed Old Madam Qiao and her entourage to come to the capital: to tell others that the Qiao family had grand ambitions!
She took over the Qinghe Lady's residence and then sent her daughter to the Qi Prince's residence... It was a picture of extravagance and luxury.
Seeing that Qiao Qinghe remained silent, Amo said anxiously, "Madam, when I left, Steward Qiao and the others had already been arrested. More than a month has passed. The news of the Qiao family's plot to assassinate the imperial envoy should have reached the capital by now. Please think of a solution!"
If Jiangnan makes this case into an ironclad case, the Qiao family will be finished, and the old lady will also be implicated!
Qiao Qinghe took a deep breath, suppressing her unease, and had someone take Amo downstairs to rest. She also sent someone to fetch Doctor Mu to examine Amo. Only then did she stand up and walk to Old Madam Qiao's courtyard.
As soon as Qiao Qinghe entered the courtyard, she coldly ordered, "Everyone, step back!"
The maids and servants quickly left the courtyard.
Qiao Qinghe entered the main room and went to the bedroom, where two maids who had come from Jiangnan were helping Old Madam Qiao comb her hair.
The old woman who had been following Old Mrs. Qiao was standing aside talking to her.
"Everyone, get out. I need to speak with the old lady alone."
Qiao Qinghe gave the order again.
Everyone was stunned for a moment, and they all looked at Old Mrs. Qiao.
Grandma Qiao frowned unhappily. "You are all people I brought! Go about your business, you don't need to go out!"
After saying that, she turned and glared at Qiao Qinghe, asking angrily, "Why did you come here so early in the morning to make me unhappy? What do you want?"
Qiao Qinghe closed her eyes briefly and said patiently, "Tell them all to leave."
"If you tell anyone, I'll..."
The old lady was about to object when Qiao Qinghe said in a low, hoarse voice, "This concerns Jiangnan. Are you sure you want them to listen too?"
Grandma Qiao paused, then raised her hand to signal, "Everyone, please leave."
The two maids quickly curtsied and withdrew.
The old woman hesitated for a moment, then gave Qiao Qinghe a deep look before slowly retreating.
After everyone had left, Grandma Qiao asked with a stern face, "What do you want to say?"
Qiao Qinghe also looked at Old Madam Qiao: "Something has happened to the Qiao family. Does Mother know about this?"
Grandma Qiao snorted coldly, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Qiao Qinghe took a deep breath, no longer intending to play games with the old lady, "I sent Jingyao with some people to Jiangnan before the New Year. Now some of them have returned."
“Mother, I already know that the Qiao family has encountered trouble in Jiangnan. Please don’t hide it from me anymore. Tell me everything you know.”
Grandma Qiao was startled. "You said something happened in Jiangnan? What happened? Tell me quickly, what happened?"
Seeing that the old lady's panic seemed genuine, Qiao Qinghe quickly recounted everything that had happened, including the siege of the Qiao family, Qiao Jingyao's arrest shortly after arriving in Jiangnan, and the accusations against him for murdering the imperial envoy.
Hearing this, Old Mrs. Qiao was stunned for a long time before she cried out in alarm, "No! This shouldn't be! They promised me that as long as I brought people to the capital and caused you no peace, they would let the Qiao family go!"
Qiao Qinghe grabbed Old Madam Qiao: "Mother! What exactly happened? Explain yourself!"
"Who else could it be? Of course, it's those guys from Jiangnan! And..."
Grandma Qiao raised her head, glared fiercely at Qiao Qinghe, and gritted her teeth as she spat out two words: "Min Ji!"
"It's all because of you that Min Ji sought revenge against the Qiao family!"
"It was you who caused the Xuanping Marquis's mansion to be raided, caused the Min family to be exiled, and even made the Min family's descendants change their surname to yours!"
"It's all because you angered Min Ji that Min Ji retaliated against the Qiao family!"
"But why?"
"He clearly promised us that as long as you live in unrest and misery, he would spare the Qiao family!"
"But why is the Qiao family still surrounded by government troops?"
"And Jing Yao, why did they arrest him? He's the second wife's only son!"
Grandma Qiao talked on and on, and Qiao Qinghe got a lot of information from her words.
First, the Qiao family knew that Min Ji was still alive, and they also knew that it was Min Ji who was taking revenge on the Qiao family.
Secondly, the fact that Min Ji could threaten the Qiao family indicates that he still has ties with those forces in Jiangnan. This contradicts her initial assumption that Min Ji sacrificed much to escape Jiangnan by abandoning the Qiao family.
Perhaps, all of this was an illusion from the very beginning!
She thought Min Ji wanted to save the Xuanping Marquis's mansion and extricate himself from the quagmire of Jiangnan.
But is that really the reality?
Judging from the current situation, it is clearly not the case.
I'm afraid that his withdrawal back then was just a cover-up!
His connection with Jiangnan simply shifted from being overt to being covert.
In the end, the Qiao family seemed unaware of Min Ji and his group's true intentions!
Looking at the hysterical Old Mrs. Qiao, Qiao Qinghe no longer wanted to ask when the Qiao family found out that Min Ji was still alive, or whether there was any other connection between them that she was unaware of.
She went out alone, staring blankly into the void, and said softly, "Zhuxi, please pass on a message for me, saying that I want to see the Emperor."
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