Chapter 712 The Second Branch of the Qiao Family Leaves Beijing
To outsiders, Mu Jin died at the Qiao residence, and regardless of the reason, the Qiao family could not escape responsibility.
Moreover, the second branch of the Qiao family even caused a scene at the entrance of the Qiao residence.
The two sides have already fallen out.
The fact that the second branch of the Qiao family has now left the capital further confirms the rumors of discord between the two families.
Zhou Shi, along with Qiao Yuanyao and Qiao Zhan, sat in the carriage, waiting for Qiao Jingyao to say goodbye to the people who came to see them off.
Qiao Yuanyao would occasionally lift the carriage curtain and look towards the city gate.
After several attempts, Madam Zhou finally snapped, her face darkening, "What are you looking at? Do you expect the Qiao family from the South City to come and escort you?"
"Hmph, just you wait and see, we're not related at all! Qiao Qinghe isn't your aunt!"
"That's a cold-hearted, heartless person!"
She pleaded so desperately with Qiao Qinghe, begging her to spare Mu Jin's life, even kneeling down before her as her sister-in-law. But Qiao Qinghe remained unmoved.
The child threw himself against the headboard of Mu Jin's bed, crying his heart out, his soul breaking. Qiao Qinghe, that heartless woman, only glanced at him before turning and leaving.
Not only did they spare Mu Jin's life, they didn't even say a word of comfort to the child.
Later, the son even proposed leaving the capital and going to the northwest to guard the frontier.
Although her son said he didn't want to stay in the capital, a place of trouble and intrigue, she knew perfectly well that he had been forced to leave by Qiao Qinghe!
The son said this only because he was afraid that she would go to Qiao Qinghe's house and cause trouble, and that she would suffer a loss!
The more Zhou thought about it, the angrier she became. No matter how grateful she had been to Qiao Qinghe in the past, it had now turned into resentment because of Mu Jin's death and Qiao Jingyao's forced transfer to the northwest border.
“Mother, what’s done is done. No matter how much you hate Aunt, it won’t change anything.”
Qiao Yuanyao also harbored resentment, resenting her aunt for being too cruel, but she resented her second sister-in-law even more for her reckless behavior and terrible misdeeds that forced her aunt to become intolerant of her, ultimately damaging the relationship between the two families.
"Moreover, while my aunt may have made mistakes, my second sister-in-law is the real culprit!"
"Have you forgotten what your second sister-in-law has done?"
"That's a heinous crime punishable by confiscation of property and extermination of the entire clan!"
Zhou snorted coldly, "I'm not going to argue with you, and don't try to lecture me. I'm not listening!"
Zhou glared at Qiao Yuanyao, then turned to see her grandson Qiao Zhan leaning against the car wall, his eyes vacant and lifeless, as if he had lost his soul and had completely lost his former vitality.
Seeing this, Zhou felt a sharp pain in her heart and cursed Qiao Qinghe several times in her mind.
After Qiao Jingyao had finally said goodbye to his brothers and friends, the group slowly started moving and headed northwest.
***
On the Qiao family's side, after the two brothers returned, they told their father, Qiao Qingping, about Qiao Jingyao's family leaving and the fact that no one from their aunt's residence saw them off.
Upon hearing this, Qiao Qingping simply sighed, said nothing, and waved for the two to leave.
After seeing the people off, Zhou Bing and Xiong Peng both looked gloomy and in a bad mood.
When Ah San and Ah Si met, they both made their stance clear. If they dared to harbor resentment towards the Qiao family, especially towards the old lady, because of Qiao Jingyao's matter, they would agree to a divorce.
In any case, the old lady prepared a considerable dowry for them, so they could live well even without them.
Even if all else fails, they can still go back to the Qiao residence.
The old lady is kind and gentle; she certainly won't drive them away.
After the two finished their argument, which was a mix of calm and confrontation, Zhou Bing and Xiong Peng no longer dared to show their displeasure. They repeatedly assured each other that they had absolutely no resentment towards the Qiao family or the old lady, and that they stayed in the capital to protect the Qiao family and the old lady.
Only then did Ah San and the other two let them go.
***
Perhaps fearing that Qiao Qinghe would be upset about the departure of the second branch of the Qiao family from the capital, Wei Jia called Feng Yuerou and several children to the main courtyard early in the morning.
The siblings, Jinyu and his sister, who had already begun their early education, came over happily because they could skip class.
The two men even complained that Qiao Zhen was walking too slowly, so they left her behind and went to the main courtyard first.
As soon as they entered, the two siblings started greeting each other.
"Brother Qian, Brother Qian, we're here!"
Li was already over two years old and was increasingly fond of joining in on fun activities.
Every morning, as soon as he gets up, he runs to the main room. Right now, after having breakfast, he's playing the Nine Linked Rings game with Li Lan.
Hearing Qiao Jin and Qiao Yu call him, he looked towards the door and replied, "I'm here!"
Soon, the two siblings went inside, and the children started playing together.
A moment later, Wei Jia and Feng Yuerou led Qiao Zhen inside.
“Zhen’er, go play with your older brother, older sister, and Qian’er.”
Qiao Zhen glanced at the group of people playing together and slowly walked over.
She didn't speak or play with anyone. She just sat down on the mat next to them and quietly watched them play.
Good girl!
Although Li Lan didn't quite understand what had happened, she was still somewhat affected by the upheaval.
In particular, the brothers Li Rui and Li Ze would tell her from time to time that she had to be good, obedient, and not to cry, be willful, or upset the old lady, or upset the other children in the mansion...
After hearing these words many times, Li Lan gradually developed the awareness that she should give in to and coax Qian Ge'er and the others.
Seeing that the three brothers were having a good time, no one paid any attention to Qiao Zhen.
She then walked over to Qiaozhen with the Luban lock in her hand and whispered to her, "Do you want to play?"
Qiao Zhen shook her head.
Li Lan then handed her another one, saying, "This one is for you."
Qiao Zhen shook her head again.
Li Lan then put down the Luban lock and sat quietly next to Qiao Zhen, keeping her company.
So, while the two little girls sat quietly in a daze, Qian Ge'er and Jin Yu, the brother and sister, were playing enthusiastically.
The contrast between movement and stillness should not be too obvious.
Seeing that the children were playing obediently without causing any trouble, the adults sent someone to watch over them while they themselves went to sit down and chat.
Wei Jia and Feng Yuerou, wanting to keep her company, picked out some interesting things to tell Qiao Qinghe.
An hour had passed before we knew it.
Qiao Qinghe glanced at the sky, estimated the time, and asked Wei Jia, "The person should have already left the city, right?"
Wei Jia nodded: "Yes, they should have left the city half an hour ago. They're probably already on their way by now."
Just then, someone outside called for A-Shuang. A-Shuang went out for a moment, and when she came back in, she whispered something in Qiao Qinghe's ear.
Seeing this, Wei Jia and Feng Yuerou smiled, got up, and said goodbye.
Qiao Qinghe did not try to stop her.
Soon, Wei Jia and Feng Yuerou left with all the children.
Yes, Brother Qian and Sister Lan also went along.
Only Qiao Qinghe and A Shuang remained in the room.
Qiao Qinghe then asked, "What did the people from the Marquis of Enping's residence say?"
"Have the escorts along the route been arranged?"
A Shuang nodded: "It's all arranged. The people from the Enping Marquis's residence have been divided into two teams, one open and one covert. The team that is in the open will mix with the people from the Yongning Marquis's residence, pretending to be a merchant caravan, and will head northwest with Second Master Yao's group."
"A hidden group of people followed the main force from the front and back."
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