Chapter 756 Two Old Ladies Have a Conflict
Sure enough, Bai said in a low voice, embarrassed, "Your grandniece got married a couple of days ago. I had prepared the wedding gifts, but at the last minute, the old lady insisted that we not send them over."
"Today too, knowing you were coming early in the morning, she ordered me not to go to the door to greet you."
"It's obvious she's angry with you."
"Madam, you and the old lady have been close friends for many years. If there is any misunderstanding, you can talk it out with the old lady in a little while."
“The way you’re all stuck like this makes the old lady uncomfortable, and the servants are constantly on edge. The Duke and I are even more worried. We’re afraid that the old lady might do something terrible.”
“We can all see that the old lady cares a lot about you as a friend.”
"When you see them later, please, for my sake and the Duke's sake, please appease my old lady."
Qiao Qinghe patted Bai's hand, "You two are both filial."
"Don't worry, I'll talk to her properly in a bit. I'll definitely clear up the misunderstanding and not make things difficult for you younger generations."
"Thank you very much, Madam." Madam Bai quickly expressed her gratitude, her emotions running high. It was clear that Madam Bai was genuinely worried about Madam Zheng.
Soon, the two entered the house.
Madam Zheng leaned weakly against the headboard, listening to her eldest granddaughter, Wei Wanwan, softly reciting Buddhist scriptures to her.
When she saw Bai Shi leading Qiao Qinghe into the room, she didn't even lift her eyelids, but her expression darkened.
It's obvious to anyone that she's angry.
Bai gave Wei Wanwan a wink, and Wei Wanwan glanced at Madam Zheng, closed the Buddhist scripture, and stepped aside.
With Qiao Yuanyao gone from the capital, Wei Wanwan lost the opportunity to learn painting from him, so Madam Zheng found her a new female tutor. Now, Wei Wanwan studies painting at the residence, and spends much more time with Madam Zheng.
Madam Bai smiled and stepped forward to straighten the thin blanket covering Madam Zheng. In a sweet, childlike voice, she said, "Mother, Madam Qiao has come to visit you. Please talk things over. I'll take Wanwan and wait outside."
Madam Zheng opened her mouth, but in the end, she silently nodded, "Okay."
Madam Bai gave Qiao Qinghe a pleading look and said softly, "Thank you for your trouble, Madam."
Qiao Qinghe nodded at her.
Wei Wanwan walked to the bedside and leaned down to whisper in Madam Zheng's ear, "Grandmother, haven't you been looking forward to the old lady's visit? Now that she's finally here, you mustn't throw a tantrum."
Although the words were spoken in Madam Zheng's ear, the voice was not quiet enough for Qiao Qinghe to hear clearly.
Qiao Qinghe smiled. The little girl seemed to be reminding her grandmother, but her words were actually meant for her too. She wanted her to know that although her grandmother seemed intimidating, she actually cared about her old friend.
This mother and daughter really went to great lengths for their ancestor!
However, this also shows that everyone in this family, young and old, is a filial child.
Qiao Qinghe felt quite envious.
After everyone left, Qiao Qinghe didn't stand on ceremony with Madam Zheng. She went straight to the bedside, plopped down on the edge of the bed, and sat face to face with Madam Zheng.
Madam Zheng was clearly surprised that Qiao Qinghe treated her like family, and immediately glared at her, "Who told you to sit down?"
Qiao Qinghe ignored him and reached out to touch Madam Zheng's forehead.
Before he could even get close, his hand was slapped away by Madam Zheng.
With a sharp "snap," both of them froze.
Qiao Qinghe withdrew her hand and touched it, then quickly held it up to Madam Zheng's face again, saying angrily, "Look at this, it's all red from being hit!"
Madam Zheng turned her face away, only letting out a cold snort through her nose.
Seeing her like this, Qiao Qinghe also got angry, "What's wrong with you?"
"What did I do to offend you? Tell me!"
Who are you trying to impress by doing this?
Madam Zheng remained silent.
Qiao Qinghe wanted to stand up and leave, but then she thought of the pleading looks in Bai Shi and Wei Wanwan's eyes as they left, and the bond they had built up over the years.
She finally managed to remain patient and spoke kindly, "Are you still grieving over the death of the Empress Dowager?"
“I know about your relationship with the Empress Dowager, and I understand your sadness and grief over her death.”
“I understand that you are angry with me for not telling you the Empress Dowager’s true cause of death sooner.”
"But you should also know that the reason I didn't tell you was because I was afraid you wouldn't be able to accept it, and that you would get so angry that something might go wrong. How could I bear to do that?"
Madam Zheng turned her head and glared at her. "You kept this from me, is that really the reason?"
Qiao Qinghe nodded, "I know you; you are the most loyal and righteous person."
“You and the Empress Dowager are as close as sisters, and Princess Huaiyang is the Empress Dowager’s most beloved junior. You naturally treat Princess Huaiyang as your own junior and take good care of her.”
"The Empress Dowager's death has already caused you immense grief. If you were to learn that she died at the hands of your most beloved junior, could you truly bear such a shock?"
Qiao Qinghe reached out and grasped Madam Zheng's hand, saying sincerely, "I was also shocked and saddened by the Empress Dowager's death, but I didn't want to lose you, my dearest friend, even more."
"If you can't bear the blow and impulsively follow the Empress Dowager, what should I do?"
By the end, Qiao Qinghe's eyes were red, and her voice was choked with sobs.
Madam Zheng was somewhat moved, but she still bit her lip, slowly withdrew her hand, and looked at Qiao Qinghe with a questioning gaze.
"You said it was because you were afraid I would be upset..."
"Then why don't you tell me where the poison that Li Sanqi used to poison the Empress Dowager came from?"
"How did Li Sanqi devise such an ingenious and vicious scheme?"
"To be able to disguise poison as a tonic, to disguise a premeditated plot as a coincidence—such an ingenious scheme, such a clever use of poison!"
"Isn't it you who's plotting for Li Sanqi, and your good niece-in-law, the great physician Mu Jin, who's providing the poison behind the scenes?"
Madam Zheng glared at Qiao Qinghe with bloodshot eyes, "Which of your words are true, and which are false?"
"Qiao Qinghe, I truly consider you my closest friend!"
"There was a time when you almost surpassed A-Yun in my heart!"
"But how could you dare to incite Li Sanqi to poison A-Yun?"
"And how dare you fool me like this?"
By the end, Madam Zheng was sobbing uncontrollably.
She never dreamed that her best friend would kill her other best friend!
What should she do? What is she supposed to do?
After hearing Madam Zheng's accusations, Qiao Qinghe was stunned on the spot.
After a long while, she came to her senses, took a deep breath, and with a stern face, raised her hand and slapped Madam Zheng's pale cheek, which was already wet with tears.
"I fooled you? I instigated Li Sanqi? I poisoned the Empress Dowager??"
"Zheng Yao!! Is this how you see me!?"
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