Chapter 267 Min Yuexi's Determination
Recently, major events have occurred frequently in the capital. The white lanterns at the entrance of the Crown Prince's residence had just been taken down when the Zhenguo General's residence was hung up in white again.
Only then did everyone realize that the last hope of the General of the Nation's Mansion, the Second Young Master Yuan, had also died on the battlefield.
It is said that the body of the second young master of the Yuan family had been sent to the capital some time ago. However, the Yuan family kept it a secret until the Crown Princess's burial, when it was finally made public.
The people of the capital all thought that this was to make way for the Crown Princess's funeral, and they all felt sorry for the General Zhenguo's Mansion.
The upper-class nobles in the capital knew that this was because the Earl of Annam had secretly left the capital more than ten days ago, riding at full speed to the western border to take over the position of the Second Young Master Yuan and guard the west.
At the flower banquet at the Yongning Marquis's residence, Lady Annan was threatened by Min Qiaoshi and the Seventh Princess one after another. Fearing that the military power she had just obtained would slip away again, she hurriedly returned to the residence to seek reassurance from the Marquis of Annan.
Despite the Earl of Annam's repeated assurances that the matter was a sure thing, Lady Annam was still filled with trepidation.
One night, the Annamite Marquis's residence received a secret imperial edict in the middle of the night, ordering the Marquis of Annam to travel light and set off for the border overnight. Only then did the Annamite Marquis's wife feel at ease.
What followed was a desire to show off to others, and even more so, a desire to thoroughly humiliate Min Qiao Shi.
However, to maintain secrecy, aside from the usual visits to pay respects to the Crown Princess, she rarely went out and rarely left her home.
The fact that the Zhenguo General's Mansion is now decorated in white indicates that the Earl of Annan has arrived at the border, successfully taken over the border troops, and stabilized the situation at the border.
Lady Annam no longer needed to hide anything. She happily went to the Zhenguo General's Mansion to offer her condolences.
Of course, the joy was hidden in her heart, but on the surface she still had to put on a sorrowful expression.
Madam Min Qiao also led Wei Jia, A Shuang, Wen Xiu, and others to the Zhenguo General's Mansion to offer condolences.
Before they even left the house, they encountered Min Yuexi and her daughter, Madam Wu, who were waiting at the entrance of the Qiao residence.
"Why are you here?"
Madam Min Qiao glanced at Min Yuexi once, and her eyelids twitched involuntarily.
Why does this outfit look so familiar?
Min Yuexi was dressed in a plain white dress, with only a small white pearl flower adorning her hair.
Without a close look, Madam Min Qiao would have thought that her outfit was exactly the same as the one she wore when she went to the banquet at the Yongning Marquis's residence.
She hadn't understood the purpose of Min Yuexi's outfit before, but now she realized it was probably a setup for today.
Min Yuexi curtsied slightly and replied, "Grandmother, we are a family. We should naturally go together to the Zhenguo General's Mansion to pay our respects to Young Master Yuan."
Madam Min looked at Min Yuexi, then at Wei Jia, before asking Min Yuexi meaningfully, "Have you thought this through?"
"Yes." Min Yuexi nodded seriously.
"This is a high-stakes gamble. If you win, you can rise to the top. If you lose, there will be no place for you in the capital," Madam Min Qiao reminded her earnestly once again.
"Granddaughter has no regrets. Please grant my request, Grandmother." Min Yuexi looked at Min Qiaoshi with expectant eyes.
"Alright, since you've made up your mind, then go." Madam Min Qiao did not try to persuade her any further.
Ultimately, this was something Wei Jia had discussed with Min Yuexi beforehand. Since Min Yuexi was willing, there was no need for Wei Jia to stop her.
The group arrived at the Zhenguo General's Mansion half an hour later.
The person standing at the gate to greet the guests was none other than Zhong Liuniang, dressed in plain white with bloodshot eyes.
Upon seeing the arrival of Madam Min and her entourage, Zhong Liuniang quickly stepped forward to greet them.
"Madam, Lady Hou." Zhong Liuniang curtsied, then said to Min Yuexi, "Miss Min has also arrived."
Min Yuexi nodded in response.
Madam Min Qiao looked at Zhong Liu Niang strangely, "Why are you the one greeting guests at the door?"
Zhong Liuniang's eyes reddened. "My great-aunt has fallen ill, and my eldest cousin is busy with matters in the mansion. My younger cousin needs to return the greetings at the mourning hall. There's really no one left in the General's Mansion, so I took the initiative to take on this task and come to the door to greet guests."
Madam Min Qiao couldn't help but sigh. Who would have thought that the once-renowned Zhenguo General's Mansion would be reduced to only three women!
"Please forgive any neglect, Madam." Zhong Liuniang curtsied and beckoned to the old woman, "Lead Madam Qiao and Lady Xuanping inside."
"Yes," the old woman replied quickly.
"Good child, you've worked hard. You must take good care of yourself and not overwork yourself."
Madam Min patted Zhong Liu Niang's hand, "Then we'll go in first."
"Thank you for your concern, Madam." Zhong Liuniang bowed gratefully to Madam Min Qiao.
Min Qiaoshi and her entourage were led into the General's Mansion by the old woman. They walked to the mourning hall, offered incense, and paid their respects. After that, Min Qiaoshi said to the old woman, "I heard that Old Madam Yuan is ill. I would like to go and see her. Is that alright?"
The old woman quickly replied, "Of course, of course. Several ladies and matriarchs are visiting our old lady over there right now. Madam Zheng is here too."
After speaking, as if remembering something, she paused, then added nervously, "The Lady of Annam is also here."
Madam Min Qiao chuckled inwardly. It seemed that the news of her discord with the Marquis of Annan had already spread far and wide.
"It's alright, just lead me there. I won't disturb your old lady's rest."
That counts as a promise.
The old woman immediately breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly led the person to the courtyard where Old Madam Yuan lived.
***
Meanwhile, in the palace.
Li Sanqi brought the pastries he had "personally" made to the Imperial Study.
"Xiao Qi is here?" Emperor Xiaozhao put down the memorial in his hand and looked at the food box in Li Sanqi's hand. "Did your mother ask you to send this?"
Li Sanqi bowed, stepped forward, placed the food box on the imperial table, took out two plates of pastries from inside, and pouted, saying aggrievedly, "Can't it be that I feel sorry for Father Emperor and want to bring him some food?"
Emperor Xiaozhao smiled and said, "Very well, it is our seventh son who is filial. Your father should not question your filial piety."
Li Sanqi cheered up again, smiled slyly, and said mischievously, "Hehe, Father, these pastries were actually made by Mother herself. I was just borrowing them to present to the Emperor and running errands."
After saying that, he quickly added, "However, my filial piety cannot be ignored by my father."
Emperor Xiaozhao glared at Li Sanqi, "I knew it! If it weren't for your mother's idea, would you have sent me anything? It's a good thing you're not angry with me!"
"Father!" Li Sanqi pouted in dissatisfaction, his face full of accusation.
"Alright, alright, tell me, what brings you here to see me?" Emperor Xiaozhao saw right through Li Sanqi, who was offering unsolicited favors.
Li Sanqi put away her feigned dissatisfaction and smiled again. But after thinking for a moment, she put away her smile and said with a serious expression, "Father, there have been a lot of funerals lately. First, the Crown Princess died under mysterious circumstances, and now the Second Young Master Yuan of the General of the State died on the battlefield. I am very uneasy."
Wow, that opening line...
Also, what does it mean that the Crown Princess died under mysterious circumstances?
Emperor Xiaozhao looked at his youngest daughter with amusement.
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