NOVEL WEB Chapter 53: Who Harbors Improper Thoughts
Chapter 53: Who Harbors Improper Thoughts
Qiao Nian actually understood Prince Ming’s intention.
Their marriage was built on the connection with the Marquis’s family. Lin Ye was the future heir of the Marquis’s family, and if she and Lin Ye were on bad terms, it wouldn’t be good for Prince Ming either.
However, Qiao Nian simply couldn’t put on a pleasant face when looking at them, so she could only turn away and look back at the lake surface.
Actually, today, besides the two pairs of siblings from the Lin and Xiao families, there were also other young ladies and gentlemen, such as Song Baixuan, the second daughter of the Minister of War’s family, who was very close to Xiao Qingnu.
These people had come today out of respect for Prince Ming.
It was said to be a spring outing, but in reality, it was nothing more than Prince Ming wanting to use the crowd to ease the relationship between Qiao Nian and Lin Ye.
But hadn’t Prince Ming previously severely injured Lin Ye for her sake?
Looking at the sparkling lake surface, a chill rose in Qiao Nian’s heart.
The young ladies and gentlemen came forward to greet Prince Ming, but since today was supposed to be a casual outing, they didn’t need to be too formal, so their greetings were not very proper.
After greeting Prince Ming, Xiao Qingnu looked directly at Qiao Nian. She observed Qiao Nian’s profile, and seeing no reaction, she couldn’t help but speak coldly, “Why doesn’t Miss Qiao turn around? Could it be that you’re already putting on airs as the Prince’s wife before even marrying Prince Ming?”
Her intention was to mock Qiao Nian.
But unexpectedly, Qiao Nian didn’t even glance at her, “If you want to pay respects to me as a princess consort now, I can accept it.”
“You!” Xiao Qingnu instinctively wanted to get angry, but after glancing at Prince Ming beside her, she held back. Before coming today, her father and brother had instructed her not to cause trouble.
It was Miss Song Baixuan who smiled and tugged at Xiao Qingnu’s sleeve, saying, “It’s clear that Miss Qiao is still angry with Miss Lin. Let’s not stir up trouble here, let’s go over there for a walk!”
As she spoke, she was about to pull Xiao Qingnu away.
In fact, the other young ladies and gentlemen had already walked away after paying their respects, but their gazes still occasionally turned this way, clearly having come with the attitude of watching a show.
Xiao Qingnu originally didn’t want to cause trouble either, but after Song Baixuan said this, she became displeased, “What does she have to be angry about? She hit someone so hard that the swelling hasn’t gone down after nearly half a month! What right does she have to be angry?”
“Enough, Nuannuan…” Lin Yuan finally spoke up, her voice small, “Don’t say anymore…”
“Yuan’er!” Xiao Qingnu seemed somewhat exasperated, but after calling out like this, she seemed to think of something. She glanced at Qiao Nian, then continued to Lin Yuan, “I mean, sister-in-law! You’re too easy to bully!”
The term “sister-in-law” immediately made Lin Yuan’s cheeks flush red.
Xiao Heng, standing to the side, unconsciously furrowed his brow slightly and instinctively looked at Qiao Nian’s expression.
But Qiao Nian’s eyes were still fixed on the lake surface, not even glancing at them.
She doesn’t care?
Xiao Heng’s brow furrowed even more.
Thinking of what Qiao Nian had said to him that day, the irritation in his heart rose again.
The hand behind his back unconsciously clenched into a fist.
Lin Yuan, who had originally been elated by Xiao Qingnu’s form of address, suddenly sobered up when she noticed that Xiao Heng’s gaze was constantly falling on Qiao Nian.
She shook her head at Xiao Qingnu, “Don’t say anymore.”
But the more Lin Yuan tried to stop her from speaking, the more indignant Xiao Qingnu became.
She looked at Qiao Nian, “Fine, I didn’t want to cause trouble today either, but since everyone is here, I have one question I want to ask Miss Qiao.”
Qiao Nian sighed inwardly.
Such a nice scenery, all ruined by this noisy chatter.
Seeing that Qiao Nian still ignored her, Xiao Qingnu became even more angry.
It was like punching cotton with all her might, that feeling of powerlessness made the anger in her heart suddenly amplify.
She immediately raised her voice and questioned, “May I ask Miss Qiao, what exactly are your intentions towards my brother? Why, even though you’re already betrothed to Prince Ming, and you clearly know that my brother is going to marry Yuan’er, do you still repeatedly throw yourself into my brother’s arms?”
As soon as these words fell, almost everyone was stunned.
Those young ladies and gentlemen who had been waiting to watch the show from afar all showed shocked expressions.
Qiao Nian suddenly turned to look at Xiao Qingnu, her eyes conveying a fierce warning.
But Xiao Qingnu still maintained that righteous appearance, chin slightly raised, “Miss Qiao needn’t be surprised, Yuan’er saw all of this with her own eyes. That day you deliberately sent Yuan’er away, and as soon as she left, you threw yourself into my brother’s arms. And that day on Spring Mountain Street, you also…”
“Oh my, be careful!”
A sudden exclamation interrupted Xiao Qingnu’s words.
What followed was a large pot of water, all of which splashed onto Xiao Qingnu’s face.
“Ah!” Xiao Qingnu let out a sharp scream, immediately pointing at Ning Shuang and scolding, “You lowly maid, how dare you splash me!”
Ning Shuang looked innocent and hurriedly hid behind Qiao Nian, “No, no, this servant almost tripped and accidentally splashed you!”
But Qiao Nian saw the sly smile on Ning Shuang’s innocent face.
This girl did it on purpose!
She laughed inwardly, but her face remained expressionless as she coldly stared at Xiao Qingnu, “My maid accidentally splashed you, and you insist she did it on purpose. Just like that day when I accidentally tripped and General Xiao came to my rescue, yet you insist I deliberately threw myself into General Xiao’s arms. Miss Xiao, you’re supposed to be a well-bred young lady, yet you constantly spout nonsense and stir up trouble. I wonder which family will be fortunate enough to marry you in the future!”
Hearing this, Xiao Qingnu’s face suddenly turned red, and her eyes unconsciously glanced at Lin Ye beside her.
With just that one glance, Qiao Nian understood everything.
She hadn’t noticed before that Xiao Qingnu had feelings for Lin Ye.
But these two, one a lunatic and one a shrew, were indeed a perfect match!
She laughed inwardly, and a hint of mockery appeared on her face.
But seeing Xiao Qingnu at a loss, Lin Yuan finally couldn’t hold back, “Sister, don’t insult Nuannuan like that, she’s just standing up for me!”
As Lin Yuan spoke, she walked in front of Xiao Qingnu and took out a handkerchief to wipe Xiao Qingnu’s face.
Probably thinking of the scene she had witnessed that day, she felt indignant and spoke again, “Even if Nuannuan wrongly accused sister that day on Spring Mountain Street, what about a few days ago? I saw with my own eyes, sister, you…”
Her words weren’t finished, as if she was mindful of something.
But whether she finished speaking or not no longer made any difference.
Lin Ye, who had not spoken until now, finally remembered how Lin Yuan looked when she returned to the ancestral hall that day. He immediately furrowed his brow and looked at Qiao Nian with some disgust, “No wonder Yuan’er’s eyes were so red that day. Nian Nian, how could you do such a shameless thing?”
At once, everyone’s mocking and reproachful gazes turned towards Qiao Nian.
But Qiao Nian was amused by their anger. She glanced at the people in front of her and suddenly asked in return, “General Xiao has such skill, if he doesn’t want to touch someone, they couldn’t even brush his clothes. By saying this, aren’t you proving that General Xiao still harbors improper thoughts about me?”