Qiao Nian's figure froze. Her heart, which she thought had long since become immune to emotions, skipped a couple of beats at the sound of that familiar voice.
Slowly, she raised her eyes to look at the man in the carriage.
It was the young general who had achieved great military feats, her former fiancé, Xiao Heng.
Almost instinctively, she knelt down. "This humble servant greets General Xiao."
Xiao Heng's brows furrowed imperceptibly. His gaze swept over her ankle, and he asked in an indifferent voice, "Miss Lin, are you on your way back to the mansion?"
Qiao Nian lowered her eyes, staring at her knees, and nodded. "Yes."
After her words, a long silence ensued.
Xiao Heng was waiting for her to continue speaking.
After all, in the past, she had always had endless things to say in front of him.
He disliked chatter, but out of consideration for the friendship between the two families, he wouldn't be overly harsh on her. However, he also wouldn't hide his annoyance.
Sometimes, when he was really annoyed by her chatter, he would take out a box of pastries to silence her. Every time, she would be as delighted as a child, yet that talkative mouth could only be silenced for about half an hour at most.
Unexpectedly, after three years of separation, she only replied with a single word.
Xiao Heng got off the carriage but didn't step forward to help her up. He merely said coldly, "I'm on my way to the palace to report. Miss Lin, you can take my carriage back."
Qiao Nian was about to decline instinctively, but as soon as she opened her mouth, his cold voice rang out again. "Don't push yourself when you're injured. Miss Lin, if not for your own sake, you should at least think about the Dowager Lady Lin."
His tone carried an unassailable authority.
Qiao Nian thought of the Dowager Lady who had doted on her the most. She knew that her release from the laundry bureau must have been due to the Dowager Lady personally pleading with the Empress. If the old lady knew that she was limping back like this, she would surely be heartbroken.
So, she no longer refused and replied softly, "This humble servant is grateful to General Xiao."
With that, she got up and walked towards the carriage.
As she passed by him, her body inevitably stiffened for a moment.
Compared to three years ago, Xiao Heng had grown much taller and stronger.
It was said that he had just returned victorious from a battle not long ago. There still seemed to be an awe - inspiring aura of the battlefield around him. Just passing by him made Qiao Nian's heart constrict inexplicably.
She had once adored Xiao Heng with great passion, even though he had never reciprocated her feelings.
At that time, she thought Xiao Heng was like a block of ice, cold and distant to everyone. But she believed that as long as she was enthusiastic enough, she could eventually melt his heart.
However, when she saw Xiao Heng looking at Lin Yuan with a tender and doting expression, Qiao Nian finally understood that in this world, many things didn't yield results no matter how hard one tried.
Some people were destined to obtain effortlessly what others could never get even after a lifetime of striving.
So, on that day, when she saw Xiao Heng protecting Lin Yuan and warning her with extremely fierce eyes, all the words she wanted to defend herself with were swallowed back into her throat.
Her parents, elder brother, and the person she loved the most.
They all chose to stand by Lin Yuan's side and hoped that she would take the blame for Lin Yuan.
Actually, there was one thing Lin Ye had said that was quite right.
She had enjoyed fifteen years of good fortune by taking Lin Yuan's place. These three years of suffering could be considered as repayment to Lin Yuan.
But was she wronged?
Naturally, she was.
She had done nothing wrong, yet overnight, those who had loved and protected her turned their backs on her.
How could she not feel wronged?
The temperature inside the carriage was much warmer than outside. There was a faint fragrance in the carriage, the aroma of the incense that Xiao Heng always used.
On the small table beside her were a hand warmer and a box of pastries.
Qiao Nian recognized them. They were from the shop that Lin Yuan loved the most.
She remembered that not long after Lin Yuan returned, Lady Lin had come to her, subtly asking her to give up the engagement with Xiao Heng to Lin Yuan.
It was the engagement between the legitimate daughter of the Lin family and the legitimate son of the Xiao family. It should have belonged to Lin Yuan from the start.
But at that time, Qiao Nian was reluctant. Although Lady Lin's tone was gentle, her attitude was firm. Qiao Nian had no choice but to agree.
Now, three years had passed. Hadn't Xiao Heng and Lin Yuan gotten married yet?
A wave of bitterness spread in her heart. Qiao Nian couldn't quite tell what kind of emotion it was. Was it jealousy or unwillingness?
Whatever it was, in the end, it would all turn into a simple sentence, "It doesn't matter anymore."
Before long, the carriage stopped outside the Marquis' Mansion.
With the help of the coachman, Qiao Nian got off the carriage. Before she could steady herself, an eager and gentle voice came. "Nian Nian!"
It was Lady Lin, her former mother.
Qiao Nian turned around and saw Lady Lin, supported by Lin Ye and Lin Yuan, hurrying towards her. Her outstretched arms clearly indicated that she wanted to embrace Qiao Nian.
Qiao Nian's eyes darkened. Before Lady Lin could reach her, she knelt down and greeted, "This humble servant, Qiao Nian, pays her respects to Lady Lin."
Lady Lin's figure froze on the spot.
Today, Lin Ye and Xiao Heng had addressed her as "Lin Nian" and "Miss Lin". Perhaps they didn't know that three days after she was sent to the laundry bureau, the matron had told her that the Marquis had publicly admitted in front of the Emperor that she was not a daughter of the Lin family. She had taken the surname Qiao.
She had been called Qiao Nian for a long time.
Lady Lin obviously knew about this. Whether it was out of guilt or pity, tears welled up in her eyes immediately.
She helped Qiao Nian up, gently caressed her face, and her tender eyes were filled with pity. "You've lost weight and gotten darker."
The daughter she had cherished like a precious jewel, just three years apart, had become so gaunt and sallow.
"Mother, don't be sad. It's good that elder sister is back," a soft voice said. It was Lin Yuan.
Compared to three years ago, Lin Yuan was a bit fairer and plumper.
When she looked at Qiao Nian, her eyes were red and she seemed timid, with a look of guilt that she was hesitant to express.
It was exactly the same as three years ago.
Qiao Nian pretended not to notice and lowered her eyes.
Lady Lin, however, was relieved. "Yes, it's good that she's back. It's good that she's back." As she spoke, she glanced at the carriage beside them.
She recognized it at a glance as the Xiao family's carriage.
Thinking of Lin Ye's furious look when he returned to the mansion earlier, Lady Lin's heart tightened. She glared at Lin Ye and then took Qiao Nian's hand to comfort her. "Your elder brother is being unreasonable. Mother has already scolded him for you. Don't worry. Mother will never let you suffer any grievances again!"
Tears glistened in her eyes. She was truly feeling distressed.
But Qiao Nian suddenly withdrew her hand.
This action made Lin Ye, who was still angry, couldn't help but shout, "Qiao Nian, don't be ungrateful!"
Qiao Nian just raised her eyes to look at Lin Ye and remained silent.
Lady Lin snapped at Lin Ye, "Your sister has just returned. What's the point of losing your temper like this!"
"Mother! Look at her attitude!" Lin Ye's brows furrowed tightly. He stared at Qiao Nian intently. "I've already told you. If you don't want to come back, then go back to your laundry bureau! The Marquis' Mansion raised you for fifteen years. We don't owe you anything. It's fine if you show me an attitude, but why are you acting so haughty towards Mother? Mother has been crying herself to sleep every day because of you!"
Haughty?
Qiao Nian sighed inwardly.
She was no longer a young lady. How could she have a haughty attitude?
Seeing that she didn't speak, Lady Lin also frowned slightly, but she still rebuked Lin Ye. "Your sister is just not used to it yet. Don't blame her anymore!"
With that, Lady Lin beckoned a maid over and then said to Qiao Nian, "Your grandmother knows you're coming back today and has been waiting for you. Go back to Fanghe Courtyard first, freshen up, and then go to pay your respects to your grandmother. From now on, you'll still be the eldest young lady of our Marquis' Mansion. Don't worry. Everything will be the same."
Qiao Nian nodded, bid farewell to Lady Lin with a salute, but in her heart, she only felt it was ridiculous.
Everything will be the same? But she could never return to her former courtyard.