Chapter 295 Paying them off, using harsh methods
The sun was shining brightly outside.
Ji Qingwu sat backlit to the door, her innocent charm gone, replaced by a captivating tenderness in her eyes.
"Mother, what do you want to ask?"
Qiao's brow furrowed deeply; she had given birth to two daughters and a son, and was not an ignorant person.
The changes in Xiao Wu.
What else could it be but the lingering feeling after being deeply loved?
Seeing that her mother was silent, Ji Qingwu thought she was both very angry and heartbroken for her.
She whispered, "Mother, you..."
"Who is that beast?" Qiao asked in a low voice.
Qiao knew that Xiao Wu was not the kind of woman who was easy to get along with. She was obedient at home and kept a low profile outside. She never caused trouble. She must have been forced by someone.
Who in the Wei family is so audacious as to commit such a despicable act against Xiao Wu while Wei Ting is away on campaign?
Qiao's voice became sterner: "Who exactly is it? You're still protecting that beast!"
Ji Qingwu pursed her lips, not expecting her mother to discover this so soon after meeting her.
I was both surprised and uneasy, unsure how to explain it.
Today, she had planned to reveal some of the truth to Mrs. Qiao, but she didn't intend to tell her everything at once, mainly because she was afraid that Mrs. Qiao wouldn't be able to handle so many "surprises".
In addition, the emperor is still in a state of "coma and serious injury" and has not yet made an announcement. If Qiao Shi finds out that the little prince is her son, given how much Qiao Shi cares for Qiu Qiu, she will only worry even more and be unable to eat or sleep.
This is not what she wanted to see.
Ji Qingwu hesitated for a moment, then raised his eyes and looked directly into Qiao's eyes.
"Mother, I've come back because I have something I want to tell you."
Qiao asked, "Is it related to the people who bullied you?"
Ji Qingwu nodded, his fingers clenching tightly on the carved pear wood table.
Madam Qiao said earnestly, "I know you don't want to marry Wei Ting, and I don't want to interfere in your affairs, because you are an adult now and you have to take responsibility for the choices you make."
"But as long as you are a member of the Wei family, you will be subject to their control. Do you know what will happen to you if this gets out?"
"Leaving aside what Wei Ting will do when he finds out, just consider that old-fashioned matriarch of the Wei family. If she finds out about this, she won't let you off easily."
In a short period of time, Qiao, as the head of the Ji family, has already thought a lot.
"Even if your mother swallows her pride and brings you back from the Wei family, can you endure the hardship of being scorned by everyone? Even if you can, what will happen to Qiuqiu in the future?"
Ji Qingwu lowered his head in embarrassment after being analyzed by Qiao Shi.
Whatever the reason, she did act inappropriately. To outsiders, they had no idea what was going on between her and Wei Ting.
Ji Qingwu's eyes flickered, and she said, "Can't I just divorce him?"
Qiao said worriedly, "Wei Ting is currently at the border. How can he divorce you? Besides, he went to great lengths to marry you. How could he easily let go?"
Xiao Wu had oversimplified things. Qiao Shi's eyes darted around as she pondered a solution.
Ji Qingwu was also carefully sorting through it.
She agreed to the marriage because Wei Ting had promised to loyally assist Yuan Heng, and she had no better way to protect Yuan Heng than to do so.
But in the end, Emperor Wusu deceived everyone, including her.
Her current physical condition... she personally tested it and found there was nothing seriously wrong.
The crisis of dying from the misuse of drugs has been resolved, the emperor should soon attend court, and everything will return to normal.
She no longer needed Wei Ting to do anything for Yuan Heng.
However, she didn't know when the war between the North and the West would break out, and she didn't want to provoke him with this matter, thereby affecting the war.
But Qiao's concerns are probably not something that is difficult to resolve.
Last night, Emperor Wusu wrote a letter by hand, and Wei Ting would not disobey the imperial order.
Qiao had already made up her mind and decisively said, "Don't protect the person who bullied you anymore."
"While no one knows about this yet, let's get rid of him as soon as possible. We can give him money and valuables. If he doesn't agree, we'll use some forceful methods."
Paying them off, using force...
Ji Qingwu weakly interjected, "Mother, I'm afraid that won't work."
Seeing that Xiao Wu was meek and submissive, looking like he was letting the man do whatever he wanted and had no intention of resisting.
She said angrily, "What time is it? You're still thinking about him. Listen to your mother. There aren't many men you can rely on. You have to stand on your own two feet. Don't let a man's sweet words fool you."
Ji Qingwu wholeheartedly agreed with Qiao's words; this statement would hold true for any other man in the world.
If it were the emperor, no matter how strong she was, she would still be bent over by imperial power.
Ji Qingwu opened his lips as if to speak.
Just then, there was a knock on the door, and Chunhua's trembling voice rang out.
"Madam, Madam, someone wants to see you."
Chunhua had been by Qiao's side for many years and had seen many big scenes, so she had never been so timid before.
Mrs. Qiao was sitting facing the door, and said sternly, "I am talking to Miss, I will not see anyone else!"
"But, but..."
Chunhua was so frightened that she could barely speak, her lips trembling.
The man in front of her was none other than Duan Mingfeng, the Imperial City Envoy. His face was so gloomy it could drip water. Even a maid like Chunhua, who was raised in the mansion, would tremble at the sight of him.
Qiao also noticed the maid's unusual behavior, and the conversation between the mother and daughter was forced to stop.
Ji Qingwu wanted to stand up to check the situation, but Qiao Shi pressed her hand down.
"You just sit still. I've dealt with the person who came in at the door, and I still have something to discuss with you."
When Madam Qiao became stern, Ji Qingwu dared not act rashly. He obediently sat up straight and watched his mother go to open the door.
The door opened.
When Qiao saw Duan Mingfeng, she was stunned and stood there dumbfounded.
Duan Mingfeng cupped his hands and said, "Madam Ji."
But Mr. Qiao quickly realized what was happening.
Duan Mingfeng, who would not visit the Ji family without a reason, deliberately chose the day of Xiao Wu's homecoming to come to the Ji family and entered Anju Garden without even announcing his arrival.
Qiao's expression changed.
If the person who bullied Xiao Wu was the notoriously ruthless Lord Duan of the Imperial City Guard, then it would make sense; no wonder she was so timid.
With a displeased expression, Madam Qiao asked, "Are you here to see Qingwu, or to see me?"
Duan Mingfeng lowered his head and said, "Madam Ji, it wasn't me who came to see you."
As he spoke, he stepped aside to make room for him, and behind him stood a man wearing a light blue robe with ink-splashed vine patterns.
The light shone on this handsome face, as if it had absorbed all the light around it.
All expression vanished from Qiao's face; she seemed a little flustered and short of breath.
Zhao Mingyan had been listening to the conversation inside the house with a blank expression, but now he saw the woman trying to throw money at him.
With a slight smile, she said, "Madam, it's been a long time. How have you been?"
The emperor, who was lying unconscious in the palace, appeared at her doorstep and greeted her.
Although Mrs. Qiao was in shock and had a thousand questions in her mind, she knew that the doorway was not the place to talk.
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