NOVEL NEXT Chapter 2: An Old Acquaintance
Chapter 2: An Old Acquaintance
Qiao Nian’s body stiffened, and her heart, which she thought had long since lost all feeling, skipped a beat at the sound of that familiar voice.
She slowly raised her eyes to look at the man in the carriage.
It was that young general who had been awarded the title of “Defender of the Northern Frontier,” her former fiancé, Xiao Heng.
Almost instinctively, she knelt down, “This servant greets General Xiao.”
Xiao Heng’s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly as his gaze swept over her ankles. He asked in a cool voice, “Is Miss Lin returning to the manor?”
Qiao Nian kept her eyes fixed on her knees and nodded, “Yes.”
After she spoke, there was a long silence.
Xiao Heng was waiting for her to continue.
After all, in the past, she always had endless things to say in front of him.
He didn’t like chatter, but out of respect for the relationship between their families, he wouldn’t criticize her too much. However, he also wouldn’t hide his annoyance.
Sometimes, when he was truly bothered by her talking, he would take out a box of pastries to stop her mouth. Every time this happened, she would be as delighted as a child, but that chattering mouth could only be stopped for about half an incense stick’s time at most.
Unexpectedly, after three years of not seeing each other, she only responded with a single short word.
Xiao Heng got down from the carriage but didn’t step forward to help her up. He just said coldly, “I’m on my way to report to the palace. Miss Lin can take my carriage back.”
Qiao Nian instinctively wanted to refuse, but as soon as she opened her mouth, his cold voice sounded again, “Don’t push yourself when you’re injured. If Miss Lin won’t consider herself, she should think of Old Madam Lin.”
His tone carried an undeniable authority.
Qiao Nian thought of the old madam who loved her the most, and realized that her ability to leave the laundry bureau must have been due to the old madam personally pleading before the Empress. If she knew that Qiao Nian had walked back with a sprained ankle, the old madam would surely be heartbroken.
So she no longer refused and softly replied, “This servant thanks General Xiao.”
After saying this, she stood up and walked towards the carriage.
As she passed by him, her body inevitably stiffened for a moment.
Compared to three years ago, Xiao Heng had grown taller and more robust.
She had heard that he had just returned from a victorious battle recently. His whole body seemed to still carry that soul-stirring killing aura from the battlefield, so much so that just passing by him made her heart clench inexplicably.
She had once loved Xiao Heng passionately, even though he had never reciprocated.
Back then, she thought Xiao Heng was like a block of ice, cold and indifferent to everyone, but as long as she was enthusiastic enough, he would eventually be melted by her.
But later, when she saw Xiao Heng looking at Lin Yuan with a tender and doting expression, Qiao Nian finally understood that many things in this world don’t yield results just because you try hard.
Some people are destined to effortlessly obtain what others can’t get in a lifetime of struggle.
So, on that day when she saw Xiao Heng protecting Lin Yuan and warning her with an incredibly fierce look, all the words she had prepared to defend herself were swallowed back.
Her parents, her brother, and the person she loved most.
They all chose to stand by Lin Yuan’s side, all hoping she could take the blame for Lin Yuan.
Actually, Lin Ye had said something right.
She had enjoyed fifteen years of good fortune in Lin Yuan’s place, so these three years of suffering could be considered as her repayment to Lin Yuan.
But was it unfair?
Of course it was unfair.
She hadn’t done anything wrong, yet those who loved and protected her had all turned their weapons on her overnight.
How could it not be unfair?
The temperature inside the carriage was much warmer than outside. There was a faint fragrance in the air, the scent of Xiao Heng’s usual incense.
A hand warmer and a box of pastries were placed on a small table nearby.
Qiao Nian recognized them; they were from Lin Yuan’s favorite shop.
She remembered that shortly after Lin Yuan’s return, Madam Lin had approached her, politely asking her to return the engagement with Xiao Heng to Lin Yuan.
It was an engagement between the eldest daughter of the Lin family and the eldest son of the Xiao family, rightfully belonging to Lin Yuan.
But at that time, Qiao Nian had refused. However, although Madam Lin’s tone was gentle, her attitude was very firm. Qiao Nian had no choice but to agree.
Now that three years had passed, were Xiao Heng and Lin Yuan still not married?
A sour feeling spread in her chest, and Qiao Nian couldn’t clearly define what kind of emotion it was. Was it jealousy or unwillingness?
Whatever it was, in the end, it all boiled down to one phrase: “It doesn’t matter anymore.”
Before long, the carriage stopped outside the Marquis’s mansion.
As Qiao Nian was being helped down from the carriage by the coachman, before she could steady herself, an urgent yet gentle voice called out, “Nian Nian!”
It was Madam Lin, her former mother.
Qiao Nian turned to look and saw Madam Lin approaching quickly, supported by Lin Ye and Lin Yuan. Her open arms clearly intended to embrace Qiao Nian.
Qiao Nian’s eyes darkened, and before Madam Lin could embrace her, she knelt down and paid her respects, “This servant Qiao Nian greets Madam.”
Madam Lin stopped in her tracks.
Today, Lin Ye and Xiao Heng had called her ‘Miss Lin,’ perhaps because they didn’t know that on the third day after she was punished and sent to the laundry bureau, the matron had told her that the Marquis had acknowledged before the Emperor that she was not a daughter of the Lin family, and that her surname was Qiao.
She had been going by Qiao Nian for a long time now.
Madam Lin clearly knew about this, and whether out of guilt or pity, tears immediately fell from her eyes.
She helped Qiao Nian up, affectionately stroking her face. Her gentle eyes were full of pity, “You’ve gotten thinner, and darker.”
The daughter she had raised like a precious pearl, after just three years of not seeing her, had become so thin and sallow.
“Mother, don’t be sad. Sister has come back, and that’s what matters,” a soft, gentle voice sounded. It was Lin Yuan.
Compared to three years ago, Lin Yuan had become fairer and fuller.
Looking at Qiao Nian, her eyes were red and timid, full of unspoken guilt.
It was exactly the same as three years ago.
Qiao Nian simply lowered her eyes, pretending not to see.
Madam Lin, however, was gratified. “Yes, it’s good that you’re back, it’s good that you’re back.” As she spoke, she glanced at the carriage nearby.
She immediately recognized it as belonging to the Xiao family.
Thinking of how angry Lin Ye had looked when he returned to the manor earlier, Madam Lin’s heart tightened. She glared at Lin Ye before taking Qiao Nian’s hand and comforting her, “Your brother was behaving badly. I’ve already scolded him for you. Don’t worry, from now on, I won’t let you suffer even the slightest grievance!”
Her eyes were filled with tears; she was truly heartbroken.
But Qiao Nian suddenly withdrew her hand.
This action caused Lin Ye, who was already seething with anger, to shout, “Lin Nian, don’t be ungrateful!”
Qiao Nian merely raised her eyes to look at Lin Ye once, still saying nothing.
Madam Lin scolded Lin Ye in a low voice, “Your sister has just returned, and you’re showing such a foul temper!”
“Mother! Look at her attitude!” Lin Ye frowned deeply, staring hard at Qiao Nian. “I told you before, if she doesn’t want to come back, let her go back to her laundry bureau! The Marquis’s household raised her for fifteen years and doesn’t owe her anything. It’s one thing for her to give me attitude, but Mother has been crying almost every day for her sake, and she dares to act like a spoiled young lady towards you!”
Spoiled young lady?
Qiao Nian sighed inwardly.
She was no longer a young lady, how could she act spoiled?
Seeing her remain silent, Madam Lin also frowned, but still reprimanded Lin Ye, “Your sister is just not used to things yet, stop blaming her!”
Saying this, Madam Lin raised her hand to summon a maid, then turned to Qiao Nian and said, “Your grandmother knows you’re returning today and has been waiting for you. First, go back to Fanghe Courtyard to freshen up, then go pay your respects to your grandmother. From now on, you will still be the eldest young lady of our Marquis’s household. Don’t worry, nothing will change.”
Qiao Nian nodded, bowed to Madam Lin to take her leave, but in her heart, she only found it laughable.
Nothing would change, but she could never return to live in her former courtyard.