Qiao Nian's former courtyard was named Plum - Fall Courtyard.
The courtyard was filled with various types of plum blossoms. Since the onset of winter, the plum blossoms in Plum - Fall Courtyard would bloom in full glory, and they wouldn't wither until early spring.
Those plum blossoms were all carefully sought out by the Marquis of Lin's men from every corner of the Jing Kingdom. This was because young Qiao Nian had once said that plum blossoms were her favorite flowers in this life.
The Marquis' Mansion spent hundreds of taels of silver each year on the maintenance of those plum blossoms.
However, after Lin Yuan returned that year, with just a simple comment of "The plum blossoms in elder sister's courtyard are so beautiful," Plum - Fall Courtyard became Lin Yuan's.
Back then, Qiao Nian was filled with resentment. But now, when she thought about it, she felt nothing.
Lin Yuan was the true daughter of the Marquis' Mansion. Naturally, everything and everyone in this mansion rightfully belonged to her.
As for Qiao Nian, she was nothing more than an outsider who had once usurped the rightful place.
The maid leading the way was quite enthusiastic. "The maid who used to serve Miss has already gotten married. Lady Lin has assigned me to serve Miss from now on. My name is Ningshuang. Miss, please feel free to give me any instructions."
Ningshuang had a baby - faced appearance with chubby cheeks. Qiao Nian thought she looked familiar and thus asked, "Are you from the Young Marquis' courtyard?"
Ningshuang seemed somewhat delighted. "Miss still remembers me?"
Qiao Nian nodded slightly. In the past, she often went to Lin Ye's courtyard to play, so she naturally had an impression of the people there.
However, she couldn't understand why Lin Ye would assign his own maid to be by her side.
Recalling that Lin Ye had misunderstood her several times three years ago, thinking she intended to harm Lin Yuan, Qiao Nian thought that he must have sent Ningshuang to keep an eye on her.
Fanghe Courtyard wasn't very large. As soon as one entered the courtyard gate, a lotus pond came into view. In summer, the lotus flowers in the pond would bloom in profusion. Despite the large number of mosquitoes, it was quite a sight to behold.
But in this season, the lotus flowers had long withered, leaving only some withered branches precariously swaying on the frozen water surface. This desolate scene made Fanghe Courtyard seem even colder and gloomier than the outside.
Thankfully, the room was warm.
There was a fireplace burning inside, and the servants had already prepared hot water. Ningshuang was about to step forward to assist Qiao Nian with her bath, but Qiao Nian grabbed her wrist.
"No need. I can manage on my own," Qiao Nian said.
Ningshuang looked astonished. "How can this be? There's no way a young lady should do it herself."
"I'll do it myself," Qiao Nian repeated, her tone calm, betraying few emotions, yet carrying an unyielding authority that brooked no refusal.
Ningshuang had no choice but to put down the clothes in her hands. "Well, then I'll be waiting outside. Miss, if you need anything, just call me."
"Alright," Qiao Nian replied softly and then fell silent. She watched as Ningshuang walked out of the room and closed the door.
Only then did she walk behind the screen and slowly remove her clothes...
An hour later, Qiao Nian finally arrived at the Dowager Lady's courtyard.
But as soon as she entered the gate, she was stopped by Lin Ye.
"Why haven't you changed your clothes?" Lin Ye's face was tinged with anger, and he was visibly impatient. The look in his eyes when he regarded Qiao Nian was also tinged with disgust. "Do you want Grandmother to see you dressed like a palace maid so she'll feel sorry for you?"
Qiao Nian opened her mouth to explain, but Lin Ye didn't give her a chance. He reached out and pushed her out. "I'm warning you. Grandmother is in poor health and can't be stimulated. Put away those underhanded tricks of yours! If you make Grandmother feel bad, I won't spare you!"
Qiao Nian was pushed out of the courtyard gate. Her ankle, which had been sprained earlier today, was jolted several times by his pushing. A sharp pain shot through her ankle, and she lost her balance, falling flat on the ground.
This scene was precisely witnessed by Lady Lin, who was approaching.
"Ye'er, stop!"
Lady Lin rushed over. Seeing that Qiao Nian couldn't get up immediately, she told the maids beside her to help Qiao Nian up.
Lin Ye watched coldly. "Mother, it's not my fault. She has ill intentions! You clearly bought new clothes for her, but she still wants to go and see Grandmother dressed like this. Isn't she trying to drive Grandmother to her wits' end?"
Upon hearing this, Lady Lin finally noticed that Qiao Nian was still wearing the clothes of a palace maid.
She couldn't help but sigh, yet still said gently, "Nian Nian, during the three years you were away from the mansion, your grandmother's health has deteriorated even more. Your elder brother shouldn't have laid hands on you, but he was just worried about your grandmother's condition. You'd better go and change this outfit."
Qiao Nian raised her eyes to look at Lady Lin, then at Lin Yuan beside her, and finally spoke. "The clothes are too small."
The new clothes Lady Lin had prepared for her were probably tailored according to Lin Yuan's figure.
But Qiao Nian was half a head taller than Lin Yuan, so those clothes didn't fit her at all.
Lady Lin was immediately filled with guilt. "I see. It was my oversight. I'll send someone to get new clothes for you right away."
Unexpectedly, Lin Ye became even angrier. "How ill - fitting can they be? You're just a bit taller than Yuan'er. Why can't you wear them? After being a palace maid for three years, you've become even more finicky!"
Qiao Nian took a deep breath. Knowing that Lin Ye was always quick to wrong others, she finally rolled up her sleeves in full view of everyone.
"It's not that I can't wear them. It's that they can't cover."
As soon as the words left her mouth, there was a collective gasp all around.
Qiao Nian's hands were purple, swollen, and covered with numerous chilblains. Some areas were even broken, looking extremely unsightly.
But the most shocking were the wounds on her arms.
Whether from a leather whip or a bamboo one, there were stripes of wounds, new and old, red and black, intertwined like a tattered net, stretching from her arms all the way to the back of her hands.
Lin Ye finally understood what she meant by "can't cover".
If the clothes didn't fit, the sleeves would surely be too short. When she paid her respects to Grandmother, these wounds would be exposed. How heartbroken would Grandmother be if she saw them?
Lady Lin also understood.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she stepped forward to hold Qiao Nian's hands, filled with distress.
"I thought you were resentful and didn't want me to touch you. I never expected it was... Did I hurt you, my dear?"
Qiao Nian remained silent and didn't withdraw her hands, allowing Lady Lin to hold them.
Beside them, Ningshuang's eyes were also red. "No wonder Miss didn't let me serve. Does Miss have wounds all over her body?"
Wounds all over her body?
Just the wounds on her arms were already so shocking. If her whole body was covered in them...
Lady Lin's breath became ragged. "Quick, send for the doctor!"
A maid responded and rushed off. Meanwhile, Lin Yuan beside them was also in tears. "How could they treat elder sister like this?"
In fact, if Lin Yuan hadn't said this, it would have been fine. But as soon as she did, an uncontrollable sense of malice welled up in Qiao Nian's heart.
She looked at Lin Yuan and said calmly, "Naturally, it was under the orders of the princess. Anyone who bullied me could receive a reward from the princess. The more ruthless they were, the more money they got. After all... I was the one who broke the princess's glazed bowl."
Upon hearing this, Lin Yuan's body stiffened abruptly. Her eyes widened, staring at Qiao Nian, as big teardrops rolled down one after another.
It was as if she was the one who had been bullied for three years.
And the maid behind her lowered her head, remaining silent.
Three years had passed, and the maid who had wronged her back then was still standing beside Lin Yuan. Thus, all of Lady Lin's expressions of distress sounded nothing but ridiculous to Qiao Nian.