Chapter 473 The matter comes to an end
According to custom, the corpses of the Min clan members should have been taken to a mass grave outside the city and disposed of.
However, in the end, it was Min Yuexi who stepped forward and, together with the Min Changzhong and Min Changli brothers, put the body into the coffin and placed it in the burial chamber.
Then, they spent a lot of money to hire a security escort company to transport the body back to their ancestral home, Huizhou City, for burial. The brothers Min Changzhong and Min Changli escorted the body back to their ancestral home.
Wu Shi and Xiao Wu Shi also accompanied the two brothers back to their hometown.
The day after seeing off Min Changzhong and his entourage, the rest of the Min clan left the capital.
Min Yuexi stepped in again, bribing the escorting soldiers and providing the Min clan with enough dry rations to last them half a month. She also secretly slipped some portable gold and silver, along with several small, easily concealed, and easily convertible jade pendants and other valuables, to members of the Huizhou Min family and the collateral branch of the Min family in the capital. Her efforts were truly commendable.
Only after the last group of exiled people were sent away did the Min family's affairs come to a complete end.
Min Yuexi's reputation, which had been damaged by changing her surname, has improved considerably thanks to her actions.
Conversely, Qiao Qinghe, who never showed her face in dealing with the Min clan members, suffered an even worse reputation.
The eight characters "crossing the river and then destroying the bridge, cold-blooded and ruthless" are firmly welded onto Qiao Qinghe.
However, Qiao Qinghe herself didn't care.
She is now waiting for news from the Sun family.
Before her death, Min Rong said that she had already conveyed Min Ji's disguise as Sun Shiming to Emperor Xiaozhao through Zhuxi, and was now waiting for Emperor Xiaozhao's reaction.
However, she waited for several days without any action from Emperor Xiaozhao.
On the contrary, news came from the Sun family that Sun Shiming was ill and had been treated by several doctors without improvement. In the end, even the imperial physician was alarmed.
Just as Qiao Qinghe was wondering whether it was Min Ji's doing or Emperor Xiaozhao's doing, the Sun family once again hung up white banners.
Yes, Sun Shiming is dead.
People who were originally healthy died of illness within a few days.
Just when Qiao Qinghe thought the matter would end there, Emperor Xiaozhao suddenly ordered the confiscation of the Sun family's property.
The attitude was clear, and the actions were decisive, a stark contrast to the previous hesitation and indecisiveness.
Within a few days, the verdict was handed down to the Sun family: dismissal from office, confiscation of family property, and exile back to their ancestral home.
As for the charges, disregard for human life, forming cliques for personal gain... If we want to convict you, are we afraid we won't have any charges?
In just over a month, the Min and Sun families, two major aristocratic families, fell one after another in the capital.
For a time, the people of the capital were filled with fear and unease.
Just then, the location of the residence chosen by the Ministry of Rites for the Seventh Princess was finalized.
It was none other than the former residence of the Marquis of Xuanping.
As the residence of the founding marquis, the Xuanping Marquis's mansion occupies a large area. Although it is not located in the northern part of the city where the royal family is concentrated, it is still the best location in the eastern part of the city, and it is not far from the northern part.
Most importantly, renovating the Xuanping Marquis's residence and turning it into the Huaiyang Princess's residence would be far cheaper, easier, and less strenuous than choosing a new location and rebuilding a princess's residence from scratch.
After the Ministry of Rites made the suggestion and Li Sanqi personally nodded in approval, Emperor Xiaozhao made the final decision.
Once the news spread, it once again swept through the teahouses and taverns of the capital.
The failed marriage alliance ruined her appearance and reputation, leaving the seventh princess unable to find a husband, thus becoming the new topic of conversation among the people.
The person involved doesn't care what others say.
At this time, Li Sanqi was a guest at Lady Qinghe's residence.
"The Ministry of Rites said that I can move in in a month."
In a good mood, Li Sanqi shared the news he had received from the Ministry of Works with Qiao Qinghe, saying, "The old lady must come then."
Qiao Qinghe smiled and nodded, "Okay. I'll definitely go then."
Li Sanqi said with a smile, "Madam, I specifically instructed the Ministry of Works to preserve the original appearance of Songhe Hall where you used to live. If you have nothing to do in the future, you can come and stay at my residence for a while. I will keep that courtyard for you indefinitely."
"Thank you for your kindness, Princess. I will if I have the chance. I just hope you don't find me annoying," Qiao Qinghe said sincerely. She didn't feel at all that Li Sanqi was showing off or trying to annoy her.
From the moment she moved out of the Marquis's mansion, it ceased to be her home. Therefore, she didn't care who lived there.
"How could that be? We've been through thick and thin together. If you were to stay at my place for a while, I'd be overjoyed, not annoyed."
Li Sanqi said with a smile, "A month goes by very quickly. I need to start preparing for the move now."
As she spoke, she began to count on her fingers: "My clothes and jewelry, the things my father, mother, and grandmother bestowed upon me, and the people who serve me personally..."
"Hehe, that..."
Li Sanqi looked at Qiao Qinghe shyly, with a fawning expression, and said, "Madam, may I ask you for someone?"
Qiao Qinghe smiled, pretending not to know, and deliberately asked, "Who has the Seventh Princess taken a fancy to? Which of the palace ladies is not better than the maids around me? I'd like to know who can catch the princess's eye."
Li Sanqi said awkwardly, "It's Wenxiu. I want to ask the old lady to let Wenxiu serve me. As you know, when we were in Xixi, Wenxiu was always by my side, protecting my safety."
"Without her, I'm afraid I wouldn't have made it back alive."
"Therefore, I would like to ask the old lady to reluctantly part with Wenxiu and give her to me."
Qiao Qinghe was already mentally prepared for this, but she still pretended to be surprised and said, "Eh, didn't Wenxiu already follow the Seventh Princess? I've seen her every day since we returned to the capital."
Li Sanqi looked embarrassed, then put on a mournful face and said coquettishly, "Madam, please don't blame Wenxiu. It was I who wouldn't allow her to leave."
After saying that, she quickly added, "Please don't be angry with me, or I'll cry!"
Qiao Qinghe was speechless. She shook her head and waved her hand, saying, "Fine, here you go. Anyway, whether I agree or not, you won't give the person back to me."
Li Sanqi chuckled shamelessly, "Hehe. The old lady is wise!"
Qiao Qinghe instructed A Shuang, "Go and find Wenxiu's indenture."
"Yes," Ah Shuang replied and left.
Back then, Wenxiu and her group were secretly packed into boxes by Qiao Jingyao and put onto Qiao Qinghe's boat, and then brought back to Beijing.
There was originally no indenture.
However, in order to give these people a legitimate identity and to control them, Wei Jia made them sign indenture contracts.
"Thank you, Madam!" Li Sanqi beamed as she personally accepted the indenture handed over by Ashuang, looking at it over and over again, in high spirits.
Qiao Qinghe stared at her speechlessly, then pretended to be angry and said, "I think I've figured it out. The Seventh Princess came here today specifically to ask me for Wenxiu's indenture!"
"He even said he wanted to come see me and talk to me."
Li Sanqi was in a good mood after receiving Wenxiu's indenture, and was happy to joke with Qiao Qinghe. So he pretended to be playful and said, "You just found out? Hahaha, too late!"
"My objective has been achieved, so it's time for me to go. Farewell, don't bother seeing me out!"
After saying that, he grabbed Wenxiu's indenture and ran away in a flash.
The female officials hurriedly bowed to Qiao Qinghe and chased after her.
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