NOVEL WEB Chapter 23: What Happened
Chapter 23: What Happened
Qiao Nian used to like her older brother very much. Her brother would chase away those rude suitors for her, find her the most delicious fruits in the world, and even present her with the world’s only night-luminous pearl.
In Qiao Nian’s heart, Lin Ye used to be an all-powerful, incredibly capable older brother.
But ever since Lin Yuan returned, that incredibly capable brother of hers disappeared.
All that was left was a fool who only knew how to wrongly accuse her, smear her reputation, act without thinking, and be impulsive and reckless!
Just like now.
Qiao Nian’s arm hurt from his grip, her brows furrowing tightly.
Before she could speak, Madam Lin had already slapped Lin Ye’s arm, “What are you doing? Let go of your sister immediately!”
“Mother! Why are you protecting her? There were only the two of you in the carriage, how dare she say it wasn’t her who made you cry?” Lin Ye glared fiercely at Qiao Nian, “I’m warning you, even if I’ve done something to wrong you, it has nothing to do with Mother. Stop pretending in front of her. If you make Mother cry again, I won’t let you off!”
After shouting, Lin Ye roughly pushed Qiao Nian away.
Qiao Nian stumbled back three steps, her already sprained ankle sending a sharp pain. Fortunately, Ning Shuang was standing behind Qiao Nian and steadied her immediately.
“What are you doing!” Madam Lin also pushed Lin Ye, but Lin Ye was sturdy, how could she move him?
Seeing Lin Ye still standing firmly in place, Madam Lin hit him twice more, “It has nothing to do with your sister. I cried on my own. Can’t you change this impulsive nature of yours?”
“Mother, don’t you find your words ridiculous?” Lin Ye firmly believed Madam Lin was favoring Qiao Nian, “Before she came back, when did you ever cry for no reason? But she’s been back for just a few days, and you’ve cried how many times already? Today is only the second day of the new year! Qiao Nian, don’t think…”
“Don’t think those three years in the palace were anything special.” A gentle, calm voice interrupted Lin Ye’s words.
Qiao Nian looked at Lin Ye, her eyes showing little emotion, just quietly asking, “Those three years, I owed the Marquis’s mansion, owed Lin Yuan, it was just repaying a debt. Is this what the Young Marquis wanted to say?”
Of course it was.
Lin Ye wanted to tell Qiao Nian not to keep using those three years to bully Mother.
But, these words he had just wanted to blurt out, how come when they came from Qiao Nian’s mouth, they made his heart inexplicably ache?
It was as if something was viciously tearing at it again.
Qiao Nian continued, “The Young Marquis doesn’t need to remind me repeatedly. I already know. I will keep to my place and won’t cause any more trouble for the Marquis’s mansion. However, for these remaining few months, I also ask the Young Marquis not to come and bother me.”
After saying this, she slightly bowed to Madam Lin and turned to enter the mansion.
Before today, she had felt like a guest in the Marquis’s mansion, even enduring silently for her grandmother’s sake.
But now it was different.
The Marquis’s mansion needed her to marry Prince Ming.
So she could firmly tell Lin Ye to stop bothering her.
Even after Qiao Nian had entered the mansion, Lin Ye was still somewhat stunned.
He knew Qiao Nian was different from before after returning from the laundry. She was indifferent, distant, seemingly wanting to stay far away from them all, and even when angry, she would only respond with an even colder attitude.
But today…
A sense of unease inexplicably rose in his heart. Lin Ye turned to look at Madam Lin and couldn’t help but ask, “Mother, what exactly happened?”
Madam Lin’s brows furrowed slightly, knowing this matter couldn’t be hidden from Lin Ye, so she said in a low voice, “Let’s talk inside.”
Lin Ye followed Madam Lin to the Falling Plum Courtyard.
Lin Yuan’s illness had greatly improved under the care of the family doctor. Apart from occasional coughing, there were no major issues.
When Madam Lin and Lin Ye arrived, she was appreciating plum blossoms in the courtyard.
Seeing her dressed lightly, Madam Lin frowned, “Your illness isn’t fully recovered, how can you come out? And wearing so little, quick, go inside!”
She ushered Lin Yuan into the room, then called for Xiao Cui to bring hot water. Only then did she take out a small medicine bottle from her bosom, “The Noble Consort heard you were coughing badly and specially had someone bring these pills from the Imperial Hospital. They say it’s from Medicine Valley. The Empress had been coughing for half a month before, and it was this that cured her.”
Lin Ye watched Madam Lin personally feed Lin Yuan the medicine, and understood why Madam Lin had rushed to Lin Yuan’s place as soon as they returned.
He was naturally concerned about Lin Yuan too, but seeing her complexion was normal and she hadn’t coughed once since they arrived, he figured she must be fine. So what he was worried about now was something else.
“Mother, you still haven’t said what happened between you and Nian Nian? Why were you crying in the carriage like that? Also, Nian Nian just mentioned ‘the remaining few months’, what does ‘few months’ mean?”
Madam Lin watched Lin Yuan swallow the pill, then let out a long sigh, “I’ve found a marriage for Nian Nian. In three months, she will go to Guchen with Prince Ming, so for these three months, you behave yourself and don’t go picking on her anymore! Once she leaves this time, who knows when she’ll be back…”
At this point, Madam Lin felt her nose tingle and her eyes redden again.
But Lin Ye was shocked, “With Prince Ming? Mother! Have you lost your mind? How could you marry Nian Nian to Prince Ming?”
Lin Yuan, however, looked confused, “Brother, why are you so angry? Although Prince Ming is just an idle prince, his status is noble. When sister becomes a princess in the future, she will naturally be respected by everyone. What’s wrong with that?”
But Lin Ye beside her was furious, pacing back and forth, “Mother, you clearly know that Prince Ming… you… you…”
Those words, in front of Lin Yuan, he really couldn’t say them out loud, but Madam Lin understood.
She took a deep breath, lowered her head to wipe away a tear, then said, “Then what do you think should be done? Nian Nian came out of the laundry, and while it sounds nice to say she’s still our Marquis’s daughter, outsiders don’t know she no longer has the Lin surname! What kind of good family do you think I could find for her?”
“But, but it can’t be Prince Ming!” Lin Ye said bitterly, “Aren’t you pushing her into a fire pit?”
“What fire pit!” Madam Lin scolded in a low voice, “You’re so grown up and still speak without thinking. What if this gets out? Do you not want your head?”
Only then did Lin Ye realize he had misspoken, and sullenly shut his mouth, but his chest was heaving heavily.
Seeing Lin Ye truly upset, Madam Lin finally let out a long sigh and comforted him, “You don’t need to be so angry. Nian Nian has agreed to this marriage.”
Hearing this, Lin Ye looked sharply at Madam Lin, questioning with furrowed brows, “Did you explain everything to her?”
Madam Lin seemed to think of something and averted her gaze, unable to look at Lin Ye, but still nodded.
Lin Ye was greatly shocked, “She knows what kind of person Prince Ming is, and she’s still willing to marry him?”
Madam Lin took a deep breath, not knowing how to answer, only saying, “Anyway, don’t concern yourself with this matter anymore! And don’t bully your sister again!”
Lin Ye didn’t respond, but his brows were full of anger.
She’s willing to marry such a scum, Qiao Nian, you really are disappointing!