NOVEL NEXT Chapter 52: Prince Ming's Concern
Chapter 52: Prince Ming’s Concern
Qiao Nian finally saw the Old Madam.
When she arrived, the Old Madam had just taken her medicine and was weakly leaning against the headboard. Only when Su Mama told her that Qiao Nian had come did the Old Madam seem to regain some strength and sit up.
“Grandmother!” Qiao Nian quickly walked over.
Before coming, she had told herself not to cry when seeing her grandmother, to avoid upsetting her. But now, seeing her grandmother so thin and weak, her tears fell uncontrollably.
It had been such a short time! Compared to when she had just returned to the Marquis’s mansion, her grandmother was no longer the same person. Not only was her face colorless, but her whole being exuded a sense of impending mortality.
Qiao Nian felt her heart breaking just by looking at the Old Madam.
The Old Madam, however, smiled and raised her hand to wipe Qiao Nian’s tears, “My good girl, you’ve suffered…”
The Old Madam didn’t know about Qiao Nian being hit on the head by Madam Lin; she was referring to Lin Ye harming her.
To comfort the Old Madam, Qiao Nian quickly shook her head, “No, no, granddaughter escaped. Your granddaughter is very capable!”
“Good, good!” The Old Madam nodded approvingly, “My Nian Nian is naturally the most capable! She won’t be harmed by those villains!”
The Old Madam referred to her only grandson as a villain.
Qiao Nian’s heart stirred, and she couldn’t help but softly call out, “Grandmother…”
It seemed that just by calling out like this, all the grievances she had suffered no longer felt like grievances.
The Old Madam stroked Qiao Nian’s cheek lovingly, “Grandmother knows you were worried about me, so you kept it a secret. I also know you gave up on reporting your brother for my sake. But Nian Nian, in grandmother’s heart, you are the most important! So if you want to do something, just go ahead and do it! Grandmother only wishes for Nian Nian to be safe and content, nothing else matters!”
Qiao Nian looked at the Old Madam with some surprise. She had thought that for the sake of the Marquis’s only male heir, the Old Madam would surely say some words to comfort and persuade her.
Unlike Marquis Lin and Madam Lin, even if the Old Madam had said such things, she would never resent her, because she understood the Old Madam’s difficulties and concerns.
She just never expected that the Old Madam would still stand by her side without hesitation.
Even if on the opposite side was the Marquis’s only male heir, or even the entire Marquis’s mansion…
Her lips trembled involuntarily, and Qiao Nian hugged the Old Madam tightly. All the grievances she had suffered in recent days burst forth at once, yet dissolved one by one in her grandmother’s embrace.
She thought, her grandmother was the best grandmother in the world.
And also the person she loved the most in this world!
For the rest of the days, apart from recuperating in Fanghe Courtyard, Qiao Nian went to visit her grandmother and learned a few massage techniques from the court physician to often massage her grandmother.
As for news of Lin Ye and Lin Yuan, the servants were sensible enough not to mention them in front of her even once.
Even news of Marquis Lin and Madam Lin was rarely mentioned.
The days were so quiet that it seemed as if only she and the Old Madam existed in this vast Marquis’s mansion.
Until one day, Prince Ming’s letter was once again delivered to her.
Ning Shuang handed the letter to Qiao Nian, “Miss, I’ve checked carefully, the letter hasn’t been opened. I heard it was the Marquis’s order that from now on, none of Miss’s letters are to be opened.”
Qiao Nian took the letter, glanced at the intact envelope, and then opened it.
It was another invitation to meet.
Although the incident from the last meeting wasn’t really Prince Ming’s fault, it had indeed left a shadow on her, and she truly didn’t want to accept the invitation.
But considering that she hadn’t met with Prince Ming since then, it was understandable for him to be concerned about her from the position of her fiancé.
Not going seemed somewhat inconsiderate.
As she was hesitating, Ning Shuang said, “Miss, spring is almost here. You’ve been staying in Fanghe Courtyard all this time, it’s not good. Why don’t you go out for a walk and clear your mind?”
Indeed, staying in Fanghe Courtyard all day was peaceful, but it was also quite stifling.
So, she nodded in agreement.
Prince Ming had invited her to meet by Minglake in the east of the city.
The weather was good today, with no wind, and the sun shining on her body actually had a hint of warmth.
Looking at the sparkling lake surface and the scattered green on the shore, Qiao Nian thought, spring was indeed coming soon.
“Miss, the Prince is here,” Ning Shuang called softly.
Qiao Nian turned around and saw Prince Ming’s carriage slowly approaching from afar.
Soon, the carriage stopped by the lake.
Prince Ming leapt down from the carriage and then quickly walked towards Qiao Nian, his steps very anxious.
Qiao Nian was startled by his demeanor and instinctively stepped back two paces, fearing that Prince Ming would rush over and embrace her.
But fortunately, Prince Ming managed to restrain himself.
“I’ve heard about what happened a few days ago. How are you? Does it still hurt?”
Prince Ming’s tone was very concerned, but his voice was gentle.
His eyes, like water, stared at her as if they could melt her.
For a moment, Qiao Nian almost believed that Prince Ming genuinely cared about her.
But their relationship was built on mutual benefit, so how could his concern possibly be real?
Qiao Nian understood this well, so she slowly bowed in greeting before speaking, “After a few days of rest, it’s no longer an issue. Thank you for your concern, Your Highness.”
Prince Ming observed her attitude.
Although it was proper and faultless, her whole being exuded a sense of coldness and distance towards him.
Even though the Emperor had already decreed their marriage, and their wedding date was already on the agenda.
But her attitude towards him remained unchanged from before.
Far from the closeness she had with Xiao Heng.
Thinking of this, a hint of gloom flashed through Prince Ming’s originally gentle eyes.
Before he could speak again, several carriages were seen approaching from not far away.
Qiao Nian’s attention was also drawn to them. She saw the carriages stop behind Prince Ming’s, and young men and women successively alighted from them.
Seeing those people, Qiao Nian’s previously calm face instantly darkened.
She never expected that after not seeing them for days in the mansion, she would encounter these unlucky creatures while out for a walk!
Besides the Lin siblings, the two Xiao siblings had also come!
Seeing Qiao Nian’s obvious displeasure, Prince Ming softly laughed, “Don’t be angry. I asked them to come. The weather is fine today, and I thought this might be a good day for reconciliation between you all.”
At this point, Prince Ming lowered his voice deliberately and said, “After all, you’ll be coming with me to Gucheng in the future. It’s not good to be too at odds with them, is it?”