Chapter 277 The Third Prince Intends to Marry Min Yuexi
Li Chengrui looked at Li Sanqi in astonishment, "What do you mean by that, Seventh Sister?"
Could it be that someone else knew about their contacts and schemes?
Li Chengrui's heart pounded wildly.
He desperately wanted to overthrow the crown prince and take his place. However, he also didn't want to die.
The more people who know about his plan before it succeeds, the greater the danger he faces.
Seeing Li Chengrui's expression change drastically, Li Sanqi quickly explained, "Third Brother, don't be nervous. The person I'm talking about has a grudge against the Crown Prince. She wants to bring him down even more than we do."
Li Chengrui frowned, his face grim, and asked warily, "Who are you talking about? Who exactly is instigating Seventh Sister to oppose the Crown Prince?"
Li Sanqi rolled her eyes again, disdainfully responding to Li Chengrui's wariness. But she still answered truthfully, "The Dowager Lady of the Xuanping Marquis's Residence, Madam Min Qiao."
Li Chengrui stared wide-eyed, his face filled with disbelief.
How could an old woman living in a secluded house possess such great ability, ambition, and courage?
However, there is no doubt that Lady Min Qiao and the Crown Prince had a feud.
If it weren't for the Crown Prince, Lady Min Qiao wouldn't have fallen out with her son and moved out of the Xuanping Marquis's residence.
Tsk tsk, because of the Crown Prince's pressure, Lady Min Qiao even lost her son. How could she not hate the Crown Prince?
But does Min Qiao really have such great ability to stir up trouble?
"Third Brother, you don't look down on Madam Qiao, do you?" Li Sanqi reminded him with dissatisfaction, "Third Brother, don't forget that Madam Qiao was born a merchant and was a concubine when she entered the Xuanping Marquis's mansion."
"But now, who in the capital would dare to look down on her?"
"Isn't the fact that we've come this far enough to demonstrate Madam Qiao's remarkable abilities?"
After thinking about Min Qiaoshi's life and experiences again and again, Li Chengrui finally came to a conclusion: "Seventh Sister is right."
Li Sanqi became smug again, "Third Brother, think about the power that has gathered around Madam Qiao."
The Xuanping Marquis's Mansion, the Jin State Duke's Mansion, the Enping Earl's Mansion, the Yongning Marquis's Mansion... Li Chengrui was stunned when he counted them on his fingers.
Good heavens, half of these nobles are related to Min Qiao Shi!
No wonder he dared to get involved in such a serious matter as the princes' struggle for the throne!
Thinking of this, Li Chengrui's heart immediately burned with excitement.
If he could gain the full support of Lady Min, would he be able to compete with the Crown Prince, who is backed by the Zhong family but has lost the Emperor's favor?
"Seventh Sister, didn't we hear that Miss Min from the Marquis of Xuanping's mansion was going to have a ghost marriage with the deceased Second Young Master Yuan? How come we haven't heard anything about it even though Second Young Master Yuan has already been buried?"
Li Sanqi laughed and said, "Does Miss Min think she's so impulsive? She's currently cultivating a relationship with Old Madam Yuan!"
"I'm just waiting for the right time to get what I want."
After saying that, Li Sanqi seemed to have thought of something and looked at Li Chengrui in surprise, "Why did you suddenly mention Miss Min, Third Brother?"
Li Chengrui said with a smile, "Seventh Sister, what do you think about making Miss Min my prince consort?"
Li Sanqi was so shocked that his mouth dropped open. He was filled with admiration for Min Qiaoshi, who had schemed all of this.
***
Regardless of what the imperial siblings were plotting, the matter of Emperor Xiaozhao bestowing a marriage between the crown prince and Zhong Liuniang instantly became the hottest topic of discussion throughout the capital.
The Crown Princess has been dead for less than three months, right? And the Crown Prince is already planning to marry her again so soon? Tsk tsk!
Didn't I hear before that the royal family was selecting a consort for the Third Prince? It seems that Miss Zhong Liu was among the candidates? Tsk tsk!
The Crown Prince has already married his second wife, so how come the Third Prince hasn't even married his first one yet? Tsk tsk!
Various opinions quickly spread and became rampant.
The Ministry of Personnel, the Zhong family.
Minister Zhong shouted "Long live the Emperor!" three times and accepted the imperial edict with a smile. But after seeing the envoy off, his face instantly darkened.
"Everyone, disperse. Sixth Sister, come to the study with me."
What the grandmother and granddaughter said remains unknown to outsiders. All that is known is that when Zhong Liuniang came out of the study, her eyes were red, clearly indicating that she had been crying.
When the Wu family, the maternal family of the former Crown Princess, learned of the imperial decree to grant them the marriage, the entire household was furious.
"Damn it, how long has it been since the Crown Princess died! And the Crown Prince is already so eager to welcome a new bride? Does he even respect the Wu family anymore?!"
"My poor daughter! She thought marrying the Crown Prince would make her a phoenix rising from the ashes, but who would have thought she would die so young? Her body is barely cold, and the Crown Prince is already rushing to marry a new woman. He doesn't care about a single bit of affection at all!"
"No! I have to ask the Crown Prince what he really means. Has he already forgotten about the Crown Princess so quickly? Was all his previous affection for her just a lie?"
"Yes! Go find the Crown Prince! Make him give our family an explanation!"
...
The women of the Wu family cried and complained. The men of the Wu family, on the other hand, were filled with righteous indignation.
However, just as they were heartbroken and furious about the imperial decree that granted them the marriage, they suddenly heard a servant outside the door report: "Reporting to the old lady, Madam Qiao from the Marquis of Xuanping's residence has arrived."
"What is she doing here?" Old Mrs. Wu's eyes widened in anger. "Is she here to laugh at our family?"
"No! Send them away!" Old Madam Wu ordered the gatekeeper sternly.
However, the servant bowed and presented a folded piece of paper with both hands.
"Madam, this was given to me by Madam Qiao. She said that if you do not see her, give this to you."
"What a charade!" Old Mrs. Wu scoffed disdainfully, but still took the note in the end.
When she unfolded the note and saw its contents, Mrs. Wu was terrified, her face turning deathly pale.
After a long pause, she finally stammered, "This, how is this possible?"
Upon seeing this, Wu, the old man who was the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and his sons and daughters-in-law quickly came over to see what was written on the note.
Grandma Wu instinctively put the note away.
"You may all leave. I have something to discuss with your father alone."
Soon, Mrs. Wu's three sons and three daughters-in-law all left, leaving only Mrs. Wu and Mr. Wu in the room.
"What exactly is written on the paper? Why are you so scared?" Old Man Wu looked at Old Woman Wu with a puzzled expression.
Old Mrs. Wu dared not hide anything and quickly showed Old Mr. Wu the note that Madam Min had sent in.
Old Wu casually took the note, but after reading its contents, he broke out in a cold sweat.
The note read: The Crown Princess's death was caused by the Crown Prince!
After a long while, Old Wu looked up at the sky and laughed bitterly, his emotions running high: "No wonder! No wonder!"
As she spoke, her eyes welled up with tears.
No wonder the Crown Prince indulged the Wu family; no wonder the Crown Princess died so suddenly; no wonder the two young grandsons treated the Wu family with disdain; no wonder the Crown Prince couldn't wait to marry a new bride so soon after the Crown Princess's death...
Old Mrs. Wu was also filled with mixed feelings. "Sir, do you think what Madam Min said is true?"
"It's probably true."
"Then, shall we meet with Madam Min Qiao?"
"I must see her!" Old Wu said resolutely. "I need the evidence she has!"
He believed that Min Qiaoshi must have sufficient evidence to dare to say such things.
Once they obtain the evidence, the Wu family will have leverage to negotiate with the Crown Prince.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com