Chapter 165 Min Ji's Backup Plan
Madam Min rolled her eyes in a very unrefined and undignified manner, and said bluntly, "Old Steward Ding, we're all seasoned foxes, why are you pretending to be an innocent little rabbit with me?"
"Ask yourself honestly, when you took Min Ji's handwritten letter and brought people back to the manor, wasn't your plan to first intimidate me, then imprison me, and finally let me 'die of illness'?"
Seeing that Steward Ding was still unwilling to admit it, Madam Min Qiao added fuel to the fire, saying, "Steward Ding, we've come to this point. If you still don't admit it, I'll start to question why someone as meticulous and shrewd as Min Ji would value you, trust you, and entrust you with such an important task!"
Finally, a solemn expression appeared on Old Ding's face, and his back, which had been slightly bent due to old age, straightened up quietly at this moment.
His expression was solemn, his eyes were reserved, and he suddenly transformed from an ordinary old man who was struggling and flustered into a calm, composed, and unfathomable sage.
Almost everyone present sensed the change in Old Steward Ding's aura. However, before they could think further, Old Steward Ding said to Madam Min in a deep voice, "Madam, Lord Marquis, please ask everyone else to leave. There are some things I need to discuss with you both privately."
Min Rong was taken aback and subconsciously looked at Min Qiao Shi.
Madam Min raised an eyebrow slightly. "What if I say no?"
Steward Ding said calmly, "Then I'll have to say these things to the Marquis separately later."
Madam Min frowned slightly, wondering what Old Steward Ding was up to. After thinking for a moment, she nodded and dismissed everyone.
Wu and the others were all asked to leave.
In the large main hall, only Madam Min Qiao, Min Rong, and Old Steward Ding remained.
"You can say what you have to say now," Madam Min Qiao said impatiently, her brows slightly furrowed.
Butler Ding glanced at Madam Min Qiao, then at Min Rong, hesitated for a moment, and finally said earnestly, "Madam, the Marquis's biggest enemy right now is the Lu family and the group of people who have formed an alliance with the Lu family and are ready to pounce and tear the Marquis's family apart at any time. Do you agree with this?"
Madam Min Qiao did not refute, but looked at Old Steward Ding meaningfully and said coldly, "Since you know what's going on, why don't you hurry up and help Min Rong come up with a solution? Instead, you come back and start targeting me. What, do you think I look easier to bully?"
Butler Ding looked sharply at Madam Min and calmly uttered a few words: "To repel external aggression, we must first pacify the internal situation."
Madam Min frowned.
Then Old Steward Ding added solemnly, "The Dowager Madam has become the most unstable factor in the Marquis of Xuanping's residence. I don't want us to have to worry about when the Dowager Madam will stab us in the back while dealing with the Lu family."
Min Qiao's eyes darkened slightly, and her gaze toward Old Steward Ding became more solemn.
“The Dowager Madam has been to Jiangnan, so she must know something about what happened to the Qiao family back then.” Old Steward Ding said in a heavy tone, “I was originally unsure whether the Dowager Madam was on the side of the Qiao family or the Marquis’s mansion.”
"Judging from what the Grand Madam did today, she clearly favors the Qiao family, and even sympathizes with the Lu family. Otherwise, you wouldn't have told Madam He that you wouldn't stop the Lu family from retaliating against the Marquis of Xuanping's mansion."
Upon hearing this, Madam Min Qiao couldn't help but feel a jolt of surprise. It seemed that although Steward Ding hadn't been in the Marquis's residence for years, his control over it was by no means weak.
Even something that only she and Mrs. He knew, the old steward Ding knew!
Did the maid of Songhe Hall overhear her talking to Madam He and then spread the word?
Or did He leak the news when she relayed it to the Lu family afterwards?
Or perhaps, Steward Ding's reach has already extended to the Ministry of Works' residence?
Min Qiaoshi was lost in thought, while Min Rong looked bewildered, followed by a look of deep sorrow.
He looked at Madam Min in disbelief and asked in a sorrowful tone, "Mother, is what Steward Ding said true? Are you really going to abandon the Marquis's Mansion, your son, and your grandchildren for the sake of your maternal grandparents' family?"
"Could it be that everything you've done over the past six months has been to seek revenge on your maternal grandfather's family and your son?"
Madam Min rolled her eyes at Min Rong, offering no reply. Instead, she looked at Steward Ding with a half-smile and said sarcastically, "Such a simple attempt to sow discord has fooled him. Is this the son Min Ji personally raised? Is this the heir to the Marquis's mansion you wanted?"
Old Ding, the housekeeper, also felt a mix of emotions.
The old Marquis said that the Xuanping Marquis's mansion does not need an overly shrewd heir, but only an obedient and steady one.
Madam Min Qiao is a capable woman. With her protecting the Marquis's mansion, as long as Min Rong is obedient and acts calmly and patiently, the Xuanping Marquis's mansion can safely transition to the next generation.
Moreover, if anything happens to Min Qiao's side, he has a backup plan to control Min Rong.
But if Min Rong is truly raised to be an outstanding successor with his own opinions, courage, and vision...
Therefore, a conflict between Min Rong and his mother, Min Qiao, would inevitably result in one of them being injured. This would be detrimental to the stability of the Marquis's household.
Moreover, if something goes wrong, the backup plan left by Min Ji will not be effective.
What I never expected was that Min Rong, whom I deliberately raised as a half-finished product, would turn into a selfish, self-serving, and hypocritical hypocrite who was also good at acting.
Just like now, is Min Rong really provoked? Look at the indifference in his eyes, he's clearly waiting for him and Min Qiao Shi to fight to the death.
As before, he always managed to conceal his intentions well, watching others charge ahead. He would only occasionally jump out with words to provoke and escalate the conflict.
At this moment, Steward Ding didn't know whether the old Marquis's decision was right or wrong.
However, he doesn't have time to think about that now.
Faced with Madam Min's questioning, Steward Ding could only smile and reply, "Madam, you are too kind. There is nothing wrong with what the Marquis is doing."
He then changed the subject, saying, "Madam, let's get back to the main topic."
Madam Min raised her hand, signaling him to continue.
Butler Ding then said seriously, "Madam, you should still remember what I gave you before, right?"
Min Qiao was taken aback.
Butler Ding kindly reminded her, "These are things that the old Marquis left for the Dowager Madam to control the Third Master and the Wang family."
Min Qiaoshi had a bad feeling.
Sure enough, the next moment, Old Steward Ding said with a smile, "I also have a copy of the things that the old Marquis left behind to control the Dowager Madam."
Madam Min sneered inwardly. Sure enough, she was just a pawn in Min Ji's game! That bastard didn't forget to scheme against her even in death!
Although she was disdainful, Madam Min Qiao became interested and asked with an expression of anger, panic, and curiosity: "Those who control Min Hui can remove Madam Wang's memorial tablet from the Min family ancestral hall."
"What use is that thing that controls me? Can it really pull me down from my position as the Dowager Lady of the Marquis of Xuanping's residence?"
Seeing Min Qiao's flustered expression for the first time, beyond her usual composure, Old Butler Ding felt as if he had won a battle and was in high spirits. He smiled, his face beaming.
"The old lady's prediction was correct; that is exactly right!"
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