NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5: That Cheap Guilt
Chapter 5: That Cheap Guilt
Xiao Heng lowered his eyes to look at the gift box containing medicinal herbs in his hand, without saying a word.
Lin Ye became increasingly uneasy, “You weren’t summoned to the palace today. Did you go to the palace gate specifically to meet her?”
Xiao Heng still didn’t speak.
Lin Ye had grown up with him since childhood. How could he not know this was a tacit admission?
He immediately lowered his voice, “Xiao Heng, are you sick? When Nian Nian used to cling to you before, you were indifferent. Now that you’re Yuan’er’s fiancé, you start caring about her? I’m warning you, these are my only two sisters. Don’t force me to end our brotherhood!”
Hearing this, Xiao Heng sneered and looked up at Lin Ye, full of mockery, “Brother Lin’s words make it seem as if you care so much about Nian Nian.”
But it was clearly him who had been stabbing Nian Nian’s heart with every word.
This sentence choked all of Lin Ye’s anger in his throat.
He stared hard at Xiao Heng, wracking his brains but only managing to say, “You’re no better! Don’t forget, you were there three years ago too. If she resents me, she resents you just as much!”
“I know,” Xiao Heng’s cool voice replied, his slightly lowered eyes obscure, “She didn’t touch the pastries in the carriage.”
Not just the pastries, even the hand warmer was left untouched in its original position.
She hadn’t even touched it.
If he hadn’t used Old Madam as an excuse today, she probably wouldn’t have even gotten into his carriage.
What was the first thing she said to him today?
“This servant greets General Xiao.”
But in the past, what she loved to say most in front of him was: “Nian Nian likes Brother Heng.”
Thinking of this, Xiao Heng’s entire aura became increasingly gloomy.
Lin Ye clearly hadn’t expected this.
He could guess that Qiao Nian harbored resentment towards both him and Xiao Heng, but in the past, no matter how angry she was, as long as Xiao Heng showed even a bit of friendliness, she would eagerly rush over.
He didn’t expect that now, with Xiao Heng’s obvious show of goodwill, she chose to ignore it.
Thinking of the wounds on her arms, Lin Ye’s eyes inexplicably filled with anger.
Those dogs at the laundry bureau, how dare they be so brutal to his sister?
Even if it was at the princess’s behest, Nian Nian was still the daughter of his marquis’s household. Did they have no consideration at all?
His chest ached dully.
Lin Ye glared at Xiao Heng impatiently, “Did you bring the wound medicine from your army?”
The wound medicine from Xiao Heng’s army came from Medicine Valley and was particularly effective.
“No,” Xiao Heng replied coldly, but still took out a medicine bottle from his bosom, “But she sprained her ankle. This bottle of medicinal wine should help.”
Lin Ye snatched it, “Thanks.” With that, he turned to leave.
But after just two steps, Lin Ye turned back, grabbed Xiao Heng’s collar, and warned in a low voice, “Don’t harbor any inappropriate thoughts!”
Xiao Heng just looked at him with narrowed eyes, the corner of his mouth curling into a half-smile.
That disdainful look in his eyes seemed to say: You can’t control me.
Lin Ye was furious.
Indeed, he couldn’t control Xiao Heng, but he could control Nian Nian!
He snorted coldly and left in a huff.
Xiao Heng straightened his clothes with one hand, then raised his hand to summon a maid from afar, handing her the gift box, “Send this to the Old Madam.”
With that, he also turned to leave.
Outside the marquis’s mansion, Xiao Heng’s deputy commander Jing Yan was waiting.
Seeing Xiao Heng come out, he was surprised, “General, why are you out so quickly?”
Xiao Heng didn’t answer him, but took out a bottle of wound medicine from his bosom and said, “Take this to Miss Lin.”
Jing Yan nodded in agreement, and asked spontaneously, “Is Miss Lin Yuan injured? Why doesn’t the General deliver it personally?”
As soon as he finished speaking, he received a sharp and cold glare from Xiao Heng.
Jing Yan finally understood that this medicine was for the other Miss Lin.
He immediately shut his mouth and turned to enter the marquis’s mansion.
At this time, Ning Shuang was carefully applying the medicine obtained from the manor’s doctor to Qiao Nian.
The young girl was easily moved to tears, and since seeing the wounds on Qiao Nian’s arms, her tears had not stopped.
Seeing her applying medicine while wiping tears, Qiao Nian finally couldn’t bear it and advised, “If you keep crying like this, people will think I bullied you.”
Ning Shuang quickly wiped away her tears, but her voice was still choked with sobs, “Young Miss, you’ve suffered so much.”
Despite being Lin Ye’s person, she was so heartbroken for her.
Qiao Nian felt a strange indescribable feeling in her heart. She sighed silently and said no more.
But once Ning Shuang started speaking, she couldn’t stop. Between sobs, she said, “The young master is too awful. It’s you who suffered, you who are covered in wounds, how can he keep speaking for the second young miss! Young Miss, you’re treated so unfairly! Wuwuwu…”
Ning Shuang’s tears flowed again.
Qiao Nian felt helpless at her crying and could only force a smile, “If you speak of him like this, aren’t you afraid he’ll take you back and punish you?”
“This servant has already been assigned to Fanghe Courtyard. From now on, I’m Young Miss’s person. He can’t control me anymore!” Ning Shuang wiped away her tears angrily and sniffled, “To think this servant used to believe the young master was a good person. Pah!”
Seeing Ning Shuang’s angry face, Qiao Nian couldn’t quite tell if she was genuinely sympathetic or if this was just an act to gain her trust.
When even the people who were once closest and dearest to her had abandoned her one by one, she really couldn’t be sure if someone who had barely spoken ten sentences to her could truly care for her.
Sincerity was something too distant for her.
In this world, besides her grandmother, could there really be anyone who genuinely cared for her?
Looking at Ning Shuang’s little face, Qiao Nian truly couldn’t understand, so she could only turn her eyes away.
But as her gaze fell on the half-open window outside, her brows furrowed involuntarily.
She saw two people walking across the stone bridge over the lotus pond. One was a servant from Lin Ye’s courtyard, while the other was tall and robust, walking very quickly.
He looked somewhat familiar.
But she couldn’t remember who he was.
Noticing Qiao Nian’s gaze, Ning Shuang also looked outside and exclaimed in surprise, “Isn’t that Deputy Commander Jing?”
Deputy Commander Jing?
“Jing Yan?” Qiao Nian remembered. They had met before. Jing Yan had been Xiao Heng’s most capable subordinate since five years ago.
But why would he come here?
Qiao Nian’s mind involuntarily conjured up that proud and handsome face, her heart skipping a beat, “Go see what they’re here for.”
“Yes.” Ning Shuang responded and went out. Through the window, Qiao Nian saw Jing Yan say a few words to Ning Shuang and hand her something, then look up towards her.
Through the half-open window, their gazes met. Jing Yan unhurriedly cupped his hands and bowed to her, then turned to leave.
Soon after, Ning Shuang returned, holding two medicine bottles, “Young Miss, this is the wound medicine sent by General Xiao, and this one is the medicinal wine sent by the young master. But from what this servant can see, this is also from the military.”
Indeed, it was from the military.
But Lin Ye had always been close to Xiao Heng, so it wasn’t surprising for him to have military medicinal wine.
However, she didn’t understand why they were sending these to her.
Was it for her wounds, or to soothe that cheap guilt in their hearts?
Especially Lin Ye.
Giving a sweet date after a slap, was that amusing?
“It’s yours,” she said in a low voice, not intending to accept either item.
Ning Shuang wanted to persuade her, but seeing Qiao Nian’s slightly cold expression, she finally said nothing.