Chapter 581 Heading Home
With things said to this point, it would be difficult for Consort Liu to disagree.
Moreover, Consort Liu was indeed persuaded.
Of course, most importantly, Consort Liu knew that if she disagreed, Qiao Qinghe might have even more extreme measures to force her to agree.
Rather than being forced to agree later, it's better to agree readily now.
Of course, she couldn't completely follow Qiao Qinghe's requirements.
So, Consort Liu sighed and reluctantly nodded, "Since the old lady has already said so much, it would be unreasonable for me to disagree."
"The child can be taken back and raised by the Qiao family, but for a period of five years."
Five years later, the child stood up and reached the age to start school.
"At that time, please ask the old lady to send the child back to the Prince Qi's residence and let the chief steward of the residence teach the child according to the royal regulations."
Five years is the time she gave to the Qiao family.
Children generally don't die young once they reach the age of five, so the Qiao family should be able to accept that.
A five-year-old child is still developing. Even if the Qiao family taught him something bad, he could be corrected after being sent back.
Qiao Qinghe thought for a moment and realized that Consort Liu Hui had already made a concession. She didn't argue and nodded in agreement.
The most important thing right now is to get the child back safely.
As for what will happen five years from now, we'll talk about that later.
And that was the end of it.
With the matter settled, Qiao Qinghe thanked everyone and took her leave. She then led the Qiao family to Min Yuexi's mourning hall to pay their respects.
Seeing the simple funeral hall, Qiao Qinghe felt sad again, but she managed to keep her composure and not shed tears in front of everyone.
Wu could no longer care about anything else. After entering the mourning hall, she threw herself onto Min Yuexi's coffin and began to wail loudly.
After saying goodbye in the living room, the Crown Princess and Madam Yuan left the Prince Qi's residence.
However, Li Sanqi, Li Jingyue, and Madam Zheng all came to the mourning hall.
Seeing the perfunctory arrangement of the mourning hall, all three fell silent.
Qiao Qinghe did not stay in the mourning hall for long. She left He Rui to accompany Madam Wu and then led the others to pick up the young prince.
The child was well cared for by the wet nurse and the old woman.
But Qiao Qinghe still didn't leave anyone behind.
She doesn't trust anyone in the Qi Prince's mansion!
Even the maids who came with Min Yuexi from the Xuanping Marquis's residence, Qiao Qinghe did not intend to take any of them back with her.
She didn't know how much loyalty these people still had to Min Yuexi, what role they played in Min Yuexi's death, or whether they might become a potential threat.
Perhaps they were simply marginalized, or perhaps they were held back and powerless when the incident occurred.
In short, Min Yuexi is dead, that's a fact. But these people are still alive and well. They didn't even tip off the Qiao family.
Qiao Qinghe left with the child.
After accompanying Qiao Qinghe to pick up the child, Li Sanqi and the other two left the Qi Prince's Mansion together with Qiao Qinghe.
***
In the living room, the Liu family members who had not yet left immediately turned pale when they learned that Qiao Qinghe had taken the child away, and that she had not taken any of the old women, maids, or wet nurses with her.
"What does Old Lady Qiao mean? She's not taking care of anyone except the children!" Old Mrs. Liu slammed her hand on the table in anger. "She doesn't trust the Qi Prince's Mansion at all!"
Consort Liu glanced at Old Madam Liu and said with a wry smile, "If it were Mother, could Mother trust the Prince Qi's mansion?"
"Heh, someone's perfectly healthy granddaughter died in your house, how can they still trust you?"
"Mother, please stop saying such meaningless things in anger."
Grandma Liu sighed, "Are you really going to let her take the child away like this? What if the child only loves the Qiao family in the future, or hates Prince Qi?"
Consort Liu smiled faintly, "That's why I only allowed the Qiao family to raise the child until he was five years old."
"When the time comes, we'll send the child back and teach him properly."
"Sometimes the child is obedient, so raising them is fine. But sometimes they become stubborn and cause an accident to happen to a child; there are many ways to do that."
Consort Liu gave Old Madam Liu a meaningful look and changed the subject, saying, "Go back and have Fifth Sister make preparations. After Qiao's burial, I will petition His Majesty to arrange a new wife for Prince Qi."
"Okay. I'll make the arrangements when I get back." Old Mrs. Liu nodded, but there wasn't much joy on her face.
Madam Liu, standing to the side, nodded happily and agreed repeatedly: "Yes, yes, thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Your Highness!"
Madam Liu's expression wasn't very good, but she still managed to force a smile.
After thinking for a while, still unwilling to give up, she hesitated before speaking: "Your Majesty, will the rumors that Qiao Shi said our family plotted to harm Princess Qi get out?"
"Would it be inappropriate to let Fifth Sister marry into the family at this time?"
Madam Liu glared at Madam Liu the Second with displeasure and said coldly, "Judging from what you're saying, it seems you don't want Fifth Sister to marry into the family."
"Heh, don't think I don't know what you were planning!"
"If you hadn't wanted Fourth Sister to bypass Fifth Sister and directly replace Qiao Yuexi as Princess Qi, things wouldn't have escalated to this point!"
“We clearly agreed that everything would wait until the day we succeeded before letting Fifth Sister move directly into the Empress’s Palace.”
"And you, before anything's even started, you're already encouraging Fourth Sister to take action!"
"Hmph! We haven't even held you accountable yet, and you're already jumping out to stop Fifth Sister from entering the Prince's Mansion."
"Are you just jealous that our first wife's family is doing better than your second wife's family?"
"No, I didn't, I just wanted to remind you..." Madam Liu was exposed and immediately tried to explain.
However, before she could finish speaking, Consort Liu coldly and sternly rebuked her, "Enough! Shut up, all of you!"
"We've only just gotten to where we are, and you're already fighting amongst yourselves?"
"The Crown Prince is still sitting perfectly fine on his throne!"
"The King of Chu also came on strong this year!"
"Instead of helping my son, you're fighting amongst yourselves and holding him back!"
"Now that Qiao Yuexi is dead, and the Qiao family has broken ties with us, do you really think that with the Liu family's support alone, my son can win against the combined attack from the Crown Prince and the Prince of Chu?"
"Oh, what sweet dreams are you having?"
Neither of the two ladies from the Liu family spoke.
Grandma Liu sighed, "Your Majesty, please don't be angry. They're just two clueless people. The Qiao family came today, ultimately because of the children."
"This shows how much the Qiao family values their young heir."
"As long as we grasp this point, the Qiao family may be able to be used by us."
Consort Liu nodded, her tone somewhat dejected, "I hope so."
Seeing this, Old Madam Liu quickly added, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will prepare generous gifts and personally visit the Qiao family to apologize. I will definitely make the Qiao family feel better."
Consort Liu smiled with satisfaction, "Then I'll have to trouble Mother. We still need to try our best to win back the Qiao family. I'll also have Prince Qi make a trip there personally later."
Qiao Qinghe was naturally unaware of the conversation between the Liu family members.
She has already returned to the Qiao residence with the child.
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