NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9: Why Didn't You Say That Three Years Ago?
Chapter 9: Why Didn’t You Say That Three Years Ago?
Hearing this accusation, tears finally fell from Lin Yuan’s eyes. She shook her head repeatedly, “No, that’s not true. I never harmed Sister. Back then, I did break the crystal bowl, that was my fault, but it was Xiao Cui who falsely accused Sister…”
She was trying her best to tell Qiao Nian that she had never harmed her.
Unexpectedly, Qiao Nian, leaning against the doorframe, asked her softly, “Then why didn’t you say that three years ago?”
Lin Yuan was stunned, not immediately understanding what Qiao Nian meant.
Qiao Nian’s lips curled into a strong sneer, “Those eight words, ‘It was I who broke the crystal bowl,’ why didn’t you say them in front of the Empress and Princess three years ago?”
Lin Yuan seemed to lose her balance, stepping back, “I, I didn’t dare… It was my first time entering the palace, my first time seeing so many noble people. I, I was very scared then, I…”
“Then what are you trying to tell me now?” Qiao Nian interrupted Lin Yuan again.
What could she possibly say to make her pretend that these three years never happened?
Lin Yuan was sobbing, her head lowered, no longer daring to look at Qiao Nian, “As long as Sister can forgive me, I’m willing to return everything to Sister. I’ll tell Father, Mother, and Brother that Sister never bullied me. The Falling Plum Courtyard, I can return it to Sister too… And, and Brother Heng, I, I can also return him to Sister.”
Hearing this, Qiao Nian finally understood Lin Yuan’s purpose for coming today.
She shook her head slightly, exhaling heavily, “Lin Yuan, I just said, those are your parents and brother, they have nothing to do with me. The Falling Plum Courtyard, although it was built because I liked it, it’s the Marquis’s effort, and should be yours. Even this Fanghe Courtyard, if you want it, it’s just a matter of saying the word.”
Hearing this, Lin Yuan shook her head vigorously, “I don’t want it. I didn’t come to take Sister’s living quarters.”
“I know,” Qiao Nian smiled faintly, with a hint of mockery. “You came for Xiao Heng.”
All this talk about asking for forgiveness, going in such a big circle, was all for a man.
She had hit the nail on Lin Yuan’s head, causing Lin Yuan’s face to instantly turn crimson.
But Qiao Nian continued, “I don’t know what you’re worried about. Three years ago, before I was punished and sent to the laundry bureau, this engagement had already fallen to you. Now, although I still live in the marquis’s manor, it’s all because Grandmother feels sorry for me. I don’t even have the Lin surname anymore. I’m just an outsider in this manor. The engagement between the Xiao family and the Lin family could never fall to me.”
“Moreover, I made it very clear at Grandmother’s place earlier, I no longer like Xiao Heng. You coming here specially to probe me about this matter is really unnecessary.”
“I didn’t come to probe Sister,” Lin Yuan said anxiously, as if she had been misunderstood. “I sincerely came to ask for Sister’s forgiveness, it’s just…”
Just that probing Qiao Nian’s attitude was also one of her purposes.
But she had to admit, she was indeed a bit scared.
Xiao Heng’s attitude today made her uncertain, and she was really worried that Xiao Heng wanted to marry Qiao Nian, which is why she came to Qiao Nian so urgently.
“Regardless, my attitude is very clear. Grandmother’s health is not what it used to be. I only want to take good care of her. As for anything else, I don’t want anything,” Qiao Nian told Lin Yuan her attitude clearly and thoroughly, just hoping that in the future, she wouldn’t keep coming around her without reason.
Except for Grandmother, she really didn’t want to see anyone else in this marquis’s manor.
Lin Yuan stood there, biting her lower lip without speaking.
Her face still had tear stains, and there were undried teardrops hanging on her eyelashes.
Qiao Nian thought, if Lin Ye came now, he would probably kick her into the lotus pond, just like he had pushed her down from the small building three years ago.
In this freezing weather, falling into water would likely cause illness for several days.
Just thinking about it gave her a headache. Qiao Nian couldn’t help but rub her temples, just wanting to send this bringer of trouble away quickly, “I woke up early today and I’m really tired now. If you have nothing else, I won’t see you out.”
Hearing Qiao Nian’s dismissal, Lin Yuan naturally couldn’t stay shamelessly. She just nodded, “Then Sister, please rest well. I’ll, I’ll go now.”
With that, Lin Yuan bowed slightly before walking out.
Soon after Lin Yuan left, Ning Shuang came in.
The little maid looked curious, constantly peeking at Lin Yuan’s retreating figure, “Young Miss, what did the Second Young Miss say to you? This servant saw her eyes were red, had she been crying?”
Qiao Nian had no mood to deal with Ning Shuang and walked towards the inner room, “If you’re so curious, why don’t you go ask her directly?”
Ning Shuang followed shamelessly, “This servant is Young Miss’s maid, how could I go to the Second Young Miss?”
As she finished speaking, Qiao Nian’s footsteps also stopped.
She turned to look at Ning Shuang, her expression serious.
Ning Shuang was startled and blinked twice at Qiao Nian, “Young Miss, what’s wrong?”
“I know your master sent you to serve me for his own purposes. I won’t make things difficult for you, but you don’t need to constantly remind me that you’re my person, because I know you’re not.”
Qiao Nian had spent three years in the laundry bureau, where everyone around her was her enemy. So, she was used to speaking coldly and even sharply.
She hadn’t expected that she would hurt a little maid’s feelings.
Ning Shuang’s big eyes were almost instantly filled with tears.
Unlike Lin Yuan’s, Qiao Nian looked at her and felt a moment of softening.
But she didn’t know if she should comfort her now, so she could only frown, “I’m going to sleep for a while. You go and busy yourself!”
With that, she turned and entered the inner room.
Ning Shuang stood there, watching helplessly as Qiao Nian shut her out. Her tears finally fell uncontrollably.
But soon, she wiped away her tears, and her face, which was full of grievance just now, was already filled with indifference.
Her young miss had been tormented by people in the laundry bureau for three years. So what if she was a bit unsociable now?
With so many wounds on her body, if she wasn’t a bit tough, she might not have survived!
Although she was misunderstood by the young miss, she believed that as long as she treated the young miss sincerely, there would come a day when the young miss would see her true heart!
Ning Shuang silently encouraged herself, then called out to the inner room, “Then Young Miss, please rest well. This servant will be guarding outside. If you need anything, just call for this servant!”
Hearing this, Qiao Nian’s figure paused slightly.
A thin warmth flowed through a certain part of her heart.
She couldn’t quite explain what this feeling was, but… the frustration caused by Lin Yuan earlier had eased considerably.
She sighed deeply and was about to get into bed when suddenly a terrifying cry came from outside.
“Oh no! Someone come quickly! The Second Young Miss has fallen into the water!”