Chapter 285 Marriage Alliance between Min and Wu
"I came here to see you and Mother. I don't know if I'll ever have the chance to see you again."
Old Qiao looked at Qiao Jingyuan in shock, "Why would you be suddenly sent to Xi'e? Aren't we about to go to war with Xi'e?"
As if remembering something, the old woodcutter quickly added, "Didn't the second young master of the Zhenguo General's Mansion die at the hands of the Xi'er people not long ago?"
Qiao Jingyuan smiled bitterly, "Yes. Because of the death of Young Master Yuan, the chief eunuch Wan was killed by the Emperor. Steward Wu took over the secret service."
“Eunuch Wan has never trusted me and has never entrusted me with any important tasks.”
“However, I have been working under Manager Wu since I joined the secret service, which is why he entrusted me with the important task of infiltrating Xixi.”
"And what about Xi'an..."
"What about over there in Xixi?" the old woodcutter pressed. Why was he only saying half the story, leaving it unfinished?
Qiao Jingyuan shook his head. "It's nothing. You'll know after we pacify Xixi."
After they finished speaking, the two quietly went to see Madam Zhou.
Mrs. Zhou didn't want her son to take the risk, but she was powerless to stop him. All she could do was tearfully tell him to be careful.
After leaving Zhou's place, the old woodcutter hesitated before asking, "Brother, would you like to go see your aunt?"
Qiao Jingyuan refused without hesitation, "I don't have time. Besides, my aunt might already know that I'm leaving."
After thinking for a moment, Qiao Jingyuan added meaningfully, "My aunt is not as simple as she seems. You must protect her safety. Her safety is related to the future of the Qiao family."
"Brother, what are you hiding from me?" the old woodcutter couldn't help but ask. "Why do you want us to stay with Aunt?"
"It's one thing for my younger sister and mother to come to the capital with my aunt, but why do I have to come along too?"
"Although the assassin organization is not officially controlled by the Qiao family, you and I both know that I am the one in control."
"With the assassin organization intact, we are the uncrowned kings of Jiangnan. Why destroy our own foundation?"
Qiao Jingyuan sighed and said in a deep voice, "Now that we've dealt with this major threat, Xi'an, His Majesty should begin a major purge of Jiangnan. It would be wise for him to withdraw as soon as possible."
"But……"
Old Qiao wanted to say something more, but Qiao Jingyuan stopped him, saying, "Don't ask so many questions. Just understand that everything I did was for the good of the Qiao family."
"Don't think too much about it, just stay by your aunt's side."
"Once we deal with Xixi, perhaps we can step into the sunlight and restore our original names."
"Yes, I'll listen to whatever you say, brother." Old Qiao put aside his doubts and nodded solemnly.
Old Woodcutter escorted Qiao Jingyuan out of the Qiao residence through the back gate. Watching Qiao Jingyuan mount his horse, he couldn't help but say in a hoarse voice, "Brother, come back alive! My mother, my little sister, and I are all waiting for you!"
Qiao Jingyuan turned to look at the old woodcutter and replied earnestly, "Okay!" Then he rode away.
In the main courtyard of the Qiao residence, Madam Min Qiao lay on the bed with her eyes open the whole time.
She had seen everything happening in the mansion, but she simply didn't disturb them.
Hearing Ah Shuang's footsteps as she entered, Madam Min Qiao asked, "Has she left?"
"Yes." A-Shuang walked to the bedside and whispered, "A-Mo kept an eye on things. He saw the man ride away on horseback before he came in to report."
"Hmm." Madam Min Qiao responded, then said with a hint of melancholy, "Where did Wei Jia and A Jiu go? Do you think they'll run into Jing Yuan?"
A Shuang shook her head. "This servant does not know."
After thinking for a moment, A-Shuang finally asked the question that had been bothering her, "Madam, why did you send Wei-Jia and A-Jiu away from the capital?"
Min Qiaoshi did not respond, and the room remained silent.
A moment later, just as A Shuang thought that Madam Min would not answer and was about to leave the inner room, she heard Madam Min say softly, "For the sake of our future."
For more than a year, both Wei Jia and she herself have been doing things that seem like they're courting death.
If they now encourage the princess and the third prince to participate in the struggle for the throne, they will be doomed if they fail.
She wasn't afraid of dying, but she didn't want to take so many people with her.
Therefore, she needs to prepare a backup plan in advance.
Wei Jia left the capital with 100,000 taels of silver. She believed that with Wei Jia's abilities, she would definitely make the 100,000 taels of silver realize its true value.
Ah-Jiu is responsible for protecting Wei-Jia's safety.
Since moving to the Qiao residence, she has had Ajiu and the others train with the old woodcutter.
Old Qiao didn't hold back either; he diligently and meticulously taught Ajiu, Wenxiu, Huanzhen, and Amo all the direct combat techniques that the assassin organization hadn't taught them before...
Ah Jiu was also the one who learned the fastest and best among them.
Compared to his previous brute strength, Ajiu's skills in direct combat have also improved considerably.
Before Jia left the capital, she asked Ajiu to come along with her.
Aside from the Qiao family, Wei Jia's departure did not attract much attention.
However, when Qiao Yuanyao returned home from the palace and heard about this, she was heartbroken. But she was very sensible and did not cause a scene in front of Madam Min. Of course, that's another story.
The day after Wei Jia and A Jiu left, good news came from the Xuanping Marquis's residence and the Wu family.
Min Changzhong and Miss Wu Qin are engaged. The wedding is set for the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month. Counting the time, there's less than a month left. It seems both families are rushing to get married before the new year.
Of course, these are matters between the Marquis of Xuanping's residence and the Wu family, and outsiders have no right to interfere.
However, because of this marriage, Min Qiaoshi was once again subjected to a great deal of sympathy.
Min Qiaoshi, the person involved, didn't care about the gossip, but Madam Zheng still came to comfort her after hearing the news.
Su Rongrong also brought Aqi along and gave her several baskets of fresh fruits from the south.
In this freezing weather, fresh fruits and vegetables are a rare treat, let alone fresh fruits and vegetables.
Seeing these things improved Min Qiao's mood somewhat.
It wasn't that she cared about the small things; it was mainly that Su Rongrong's sentiment was rare.
Since her rebirth, she has become distant from the Min family and has severed all ties with her children and grandchildren.
It would be a lie to say that she wasn't happy to receive something that Su Rongrong had personally and sincerely sent.
Su Rongrong offered her some roundabout comfort regarding the engagement between the Min and Wu families, and finally suggested that Min Qiaoshi spend the New Year at the Enping Earl's Mansion.
Min Qiao smiled and agreed to Su Rongrong's awkward attempt to comfort her.
However, Madam Min Qiao resolutely declined the invitation to spend the New Year at the Earl of Enping's residence.
Despite her discord with Min Rong, as the matriarch of the Xuanping Marquis's residence, she still had to return to the residence to make a show of it.
***
At the Yongning Marquis's residence, Zhen Huan, who had been confined to his room for half a month due to his facial treatment, finally received permission from Doctor Mu to go out for a short walk when there was no wind.
That afternoon, after having lunch, he went out alone.
Although she is now the fourth young lady of the Yongning Marquis's mansion, she is still not used to being served, let alone having people follow her.
Therefore, she always goes out alone.
This day was no exception.
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