NOVEL NEXT Chapter 10: It Wasn't Like This Before
Chapter 10: It Wasn’t Like This Before
Qiao Nian rushed out without even putting on the outer garment she had just taken off. “What happened? Who’s shouting?”
Ning Shuang followed anxiously behind Qiao Nian, shaking her head repeatedly, “This servant doesn’t know either, just heard the shout. Young Miss, please put on some clothes, it’s cold outside!”
But how could Qiao Nian care about clothes now?
Lin Yuan had fallen into the water, and where else could it be but the lotus pond in Fanghe Courtyard?
Back then, Lin Yuan broke a crystal bowl, and she was tortured for three years. If something happened to Lin Yuan here, forget about others, just Lin Ye alone would probably beat her to death!
When Qiao Nian arrived, Lin Yuan was still splashing in the water.
The icy surface had already been broken, leaving a large hole.
Many maids and servants were already watching from the stone bridge.
Qiao Nian rushed over, “Can none of you swim? Why aren’t you saving her?!”
But several servants looked troubled, “We can swim, but, but what if we ruin the Second Young Miss’s reputation?”
“Is reputation more important than life?!” Qiao Nian glared fiercely at the servant who spoke, then without another word, dove into the water.
The pond wasn’t very deep, but the water was bone-chillingly cold.
The bottom was full of mud, making it hard to stand steady, and one could easily sink with a misstep.
Qiao Nian struggled greatly to rescue Lin Yuan. On the shore, Ning Shuang had already prepared thick clothes, and as soon as Qiao Nian and Lin Yuan emerged from the water, she wrapped them tightly.
“Why are you all still standing there? Call for the manor’s doctor! You few, help me take the two young misses back to the room! Light all the stoves, prepare hot water and ginger tea!”
At Ning Shuang’s orders, the onlooking servants scattered immediately, each busying themselves with their tasks.
At this moment, Lin Yuan’s maid Xiao Cui finally rushed into Fanghe Courtyard.
Following behind Xiao Cui was Lin Ye.
Seeing Lin Yuan’s pale face and disheveled state after falling into the water, Xiao Cui became frantic. She rushed over and embraced Lin Yuan, “Young Miss, are you alright? How did you fall into the water?”
Then, as if suddenly realizing something, Xiao Cui turned sharply to look at Qiao Nian, “It was you, you pushed my young miss into the water!”
That righteous manner of accusing her, pointing at her nose, was exactly the same as three years ago.
Qiao Nian felt the fire in her heart suddenly flare up, but before she could react, Ning Shuang had already rushed forward and slapped Xiao Cui across the face.
“Slap!” The crisp sound echoed throughout Fanghe Courtyard.
For a moment, Qiao Nian even stopped breathing.
Even Lin Ye was stunned, not expecting Ning Shuang to act this way.
Only Ning Shuang remained furious, one hand on her hip, the other pointing at Xiao Cui’s nose as she cursed, “You lowly maid, if you can’t use that mouth of yours properly, I’ll help you tear it off! If it weren’t for my young miss risking her life to jump in and save her, your mistress would be dead by now! As a maid, when you see your mistress in trouble, instead of immediately coming to take care of her, you only know how to spout nonsense! My young miss saving her was seen by over a dozen eyes in Fanghe Courtyard. You say my young miss pushed your mistress, then show some evidence. If you can’t produce any, see if I don’t tear that rotten mouth of yours to shreds!”
…
How fierce!
Qiao Nian stared at Ning Shuang in shock, never imagining that this short, young maid could be so formidable.
By now, everyone around had reacted, especially Lin Yuan.
She was still being supported by other maids, and having struggled in the water for so long and swallowed several mouthfuls, she now spoke with little strength.
She bit her lower lip slightly, her eyes as red as blood, “You, how dare you hit someone?”
This little act of defending her maid looked extremely pitiful.
Lin Ye immediately frowned and shouted at Ning Shuang, “How dare you! You dare to raise your hand in front of me, the young master. Who gave you such courage!”
“I did.”
Qiao Nian spoke lightly.
She was tightly wrapped in thick cotton clothes, her face pale from the cold, water droplets still falling from her hair, with some already frozen into ice.
Compared to Lin Yuan, she appeared particularly calm. Though there were only a few steps between her and Lin Ye, it made Lin Ye feel as if they were worlds apart.
“My maid, in my courtyard, disciplining a lowly servant who disrespects me and habitually falsely accuses me. I don’t see any problem with that.”
Habitually falsely accuses.
These words undoubtedly reminded Lin Yuan and Lin Ye of the incident three years ago.
Lin Yuan huddled in her maid’s arms, pitifully coughing a couple of times before speaking softly and weakly, “But, but you still shouldn’t hit people…”
Seeing Lin Yuan’s tears falling continuously, Lin Ye couldn’t help but think of the family genealogy matter. Thinking that Qiao Nian was deliberately mentioning this now to make him feel guilty, he furrowed his brows and spoke particularly sternly, “Yuan’er is right, no matter what, you shouldn’t hit people! Moreover, you don’t even know how to swim.”
The last sentence was directed at Qiao Nian, his gaze cold, as if he was certain she was lying!
How could he not know whether his own sister could swim or not?
He remembered years ago when they went boating in the suburbs, Qiao Nian accidentally dropped the earrings Xiao Heng had given her into the lake. She immediately jumped off the boat in distress. If he and Xiao Heng hadn’t been good swimmers, Qiao Nian might have drowned that day.
So when Ning Shuang said Qiao Nian had rescued Lin Yuan, Lin Ye simply didn’t believe it.
Qiao Nian’s body began to tremble slightly, though even she didn’t know if it was from the cold or from anger at Lin Ye.
“So, does the young master also think I pushed Miss Lin?” she asked coldly, her voice shaking, the anger in her heart about to erupt, but she managed to suppress it firmly.
Lin Ye didn’t speak, not because he didn’t want to, but because seeing her in this state, those hurtful words somehow couldn’t come out of his mouth.
So, Qiao Nian turned to look at Lin Yuan.
She just looked at her silently, but meeting her gaze, Lin Yuan silently lowered her head.
Just like three years ago, not saying a word.
As a result, her tearful apology in the room earlier seemed particularly ridiculous.
“Heh!”
Qiao Nian indeed laughed out loud.
The small sound was filled with intense mockery.
Lin Yuan’s body began to tremble, tears falling endlessly.
Lin Ye truly couldn’t bear to see Lin Yuan like this. His heart hardened, but unable to get angry at Qiao Nian, he could only shout at Ning Shuang, “Go and receive your punishment!”
Ning Shuang’s little face was full of defiance, but she didn’t want to make things difficult for Qiao Nian, so she was about to bow and comply.
However, a cold hand grasped her arm, stopping her.
Qiao Nian’s face remained calm, but her eyes clearly held hatred as she looked at Lin Ye, “Ning Shuang is busy today, she still needs to help me bathe and change. As for how Miss Lin fell into the water and who rescued her, the young master can inquire about the truth later.”
With that, she pulled Ning Shuang to leave.
But after just a couple of steps, she stopped again, turning her head slightly to say slowly, “I couldn’t swim before, but a year and a half ago, several palace maids worked together to throw me into the laundry pool. They stood on the shore with laundry poles, keeping me in for a full half hour before letting me out. After that, I learned how to swim.”