Chapter 324 Hotel Dispute
"Heh, Miss Min and Madam Yuan were getting along so well, their relationship was already cultivated, they were just waiting for the right moment to achieve their goal. But you intercepted them halfway."
"You're something else! It's just a small storm, and you're already getting impatient and want to abandon her!"
"You, you really are my good third brother!"
Li Sanqi's words were full of sarcasm towards Li Chengrui, and also full of indignation on behalf of Min Yuexi.
"Seventh Sister is right, it's all my fault! I'll send some nice things to Miss Min later to express my apology."
Li Chengrui said with a fawning smile, "However, I had considered breaking off the engagement. I would appreciate it if Seventh Sister could keep this a secret from Miss Min."
"Hmph, let's see how Third Brother performs!" Li Sanqi snorted arrogantly and served tea to see the guest out.
Li Chengrui tactfully took his leave and departed.
The moment Li Chengrui stepped out of Yi'an Palace, the ingratiating expression on his face vanished.
He whispered to his personal eunuch, "Send someone to investigate Min Yuexi's recent whereabouts. Also, send someone to keep an eye on her every move. I need to know if she has truly succeeded in taking over Old Madam Qiao's network of connections."
"Yes. This servant will take care of it immediately."
***
After leaving the capital, Min Qiaoshi and her entourage traveled southwest along the official road.
Because she wasn't in a hurry, Madam Min slowed down, determined not to shortchange herself in the slightest.
So, she led her people on a journey, sightseeing, painting, and enjoying the scenery. Each day, she preferred to minimize travel time and never missed a town or village where she could stay overnight. As for sleeping in the wilderness, that was absolutely out of the question!
In addition, Madam Min Qiao would instruct people to cook on time to ensure that she could eat hot food on time, with a balanced diet of meat and vegetables.
Dr. Mu said that she's getting on in years and needs to take care of her health. Long journeys especially require extra caution!
Therefore, it's impossible to compromise yourself. The main idea is to turn travel into leisure, avoiding fatigue and rushing, and ensuring physical and mental well-being.
Even her two hundred bodyguards were fed well every meal, making the dry rations and biscuits they prepared themselves seem superfluous and cumbersome.
Some people were initially dissatisfied with Min Qiao's slow pace, but now they couldn't muster any anger at all.
This group of people were originally mountain bandits trained in a rigorous and secretive manner. They were courageous and loyal.
Min Qiao treated them well, so they naturally protected Min Qiao wholeheartedly.
After leaving the capital, they encountered two groups of bandits. Before Min Qiaoshi knew about it, they had already cleared the road ahead of time.
Madam Min saw all of this. Since the people escorting them had done so well, she naturally wouldn't be stingy.
She eats meat, and she would never let the people escorting her only gnaw on bones.
Over time, both sides grew grateful to each other and developed a deep affection for one another.
After a month of travel, the group arrived in Hezhou Prefecture, less than five days' journey from Huizhou, which was located in the neighboring prefecture.
As evening approached, the group finally arrived at the gate of Hezhou Prefecture.
When the guards saw a large group of people approaching menacingly, they were so frightened that they almost failed to close the city gate.
This wasn't the first time Min Qiao and her family had witnessed something like this in the past month.
Therefore, the large group of people and vehicles set up camp outside the city.
Only Min Qiaoshi, along with six maids who served her closely—Zhen Huan, A Shuang, Wen Xiu, and A Si—and a few skilled men including Lao Qiao, entered the city.
Seeing that only two carriages and six men on horseback were entering the city, the guards were somewhat relieved.
However, they still carefully examined the travel permits of Min Qiao's group and questioned them about their purpose for entering the city. After weighing the options, they finally allowed them to enter.
However, the guards at the gate still reported the situation of Min Qiaoshi and her entourage afterward.
Those below didn't know about Lady Min, but the higher-ups with some connections had heard a little bit about her.
Therefore, the message from Madam Min and her group went unnoticed.
Seeing that there was no reaction from above, the guards naturally stopped paying much attention to Min Qiaoshi and her group. The group that had set up camp less than three miles outside the city gate was also completely ignored by them.
After entering the city, Madam Min and her entourage inquired about the inns near the city gate and headed straight for them.
Upon seeing such a large group of people arrive, the waiter hurriedly and warmly greeted them.
"Please come in, everyone! Are you here for a meal or to stay at the inn?"
Ah Shuang stepped forward and negotiated with the waiter, "We need to stay here for one night, please prepare four superior rooms for us."
Alright!
The waiter cheerfully led the group inside, and then called someone to lead the old woodcutter and his companions to the backyard where the horses and carriages were stored.
As soon as the group entered, the waiter excitedly ran to the counter and told the manager, "Manager, the guests want four superior rooms."
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper smiled and looked over. Seeing that Madam Min was elegant and wealthy with an extraordinary demeanor, he immediately took down the key hanging on the wall behind her and handed it to the waiter.
Just then, a cool and stylish woman in a red outfit entered with two maids dressed as servants.
"Manager, prepare two superior rooms for us," one of the maids, who looked like a servant, stepped forward and ordered.
The shopkeeper had just taken the key and hadn't even had a chance to hand it to the waiter when the maid snatched it away.
Upon seeing that there were four keys, the maid scoffed, "Oh, such a big manager, and he can't even count? We only need two superior rooms, why are you giving me four keys?"
"Don't try to scam us! I'm not going to pay extra for the room!"
The young maid was so quick and efficient, and her mouth wouldn't stop chattering. After she finished speaking, the shopkeeper's lips twitched, and he awkwardly explained with a smile, "Miss, these four superior rooms were requested by the old lady next door!"
The maid pouted, "Why didn't you say so earlier?"
He was about to return the key to Ah Shuang, who had already reached out his hand.
Just then, the woman in red frowned impatiently. "Why is it so troublesome? Alright, have someone take me to my room first. You can take your time with the rest."
But the innkeeper looked troubled. "I'm sorry, we only have these four superior rooms left."
The woman in red frowned immediately, turned to look at Madam Min, and ordered without any politeness, "There aren't enough rooms for the seven of you in four superior rooms, so give us two. I'll pay for all your rooms!"
Ah Shuang snatched the key from the maid who was halfway through handing it to her and then hurriedly tried to take it back, saying rudely, "Don't you understand the principle of first come, first served?"
The woman in red looked like someone who was spoiled and pampered, used to being bossy and domineering.
Seeing that Ah Shuang, who looked like a maid, dared to talk back to him, he immediately drew the soft whip from his waist and lashed it at Ah Shuang.
Originally, I planned to teach Ah Shuang a lesson and then make her kneel down and hand over the key to the upper room with both hands.
Unexpectedly, the whip had just been swung out and hadn't even hit Ah Shuang when someone grabbed her.
By the time she realized what was happening, a cold dagger was already pressed tightly against her throat.
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