Lin Ye looked at Qiao Nian in an instant, his eyes filled with disbelief. Instinctively, he wanted to accuse her of lying. However, seeing his mother sitting aside with her eyes lowered, showing no intention of speaking, he already had his answer.
But how could this be possible?
Father had always doted on Nian Nian the most since she was a child!
How could he have allowed her to change her surname?
The feeling of his heart being ruthlessly torn at once again made Lin Ye's breath turn ragged.
He felt extremely vexed. Looking around at the people in the room, not a single one met his eye. With a flick of his sleeves, he left in a huff.
His departure left Xiao Heng in a rather awkward position.
He stepped forward and saluted. "Xiao Heng pays his respects to the Dowager Lady Lin."
The Dowager Lady was very amiable towards him.
This young general who had achieved great military feats was both brave and resourceful. He was always gentle, refined, and courteous, no matter what the occasion. How could he not win the favor of the elders?
The Dowager Lady quickly waved her hand and invited, "General Xiao, please take a seat! You sent so many precious medicinal herbs yesterday. It should be me going to your residence to express my gratitude."
Xiao Heng took a seat opposite Lin Yuan. He looked at the Dowager Lady with a gentle expression. "My father and mother are still in their prime and have no need for those. The ginseng and antler bestowed by the Emperor are naturally the best tonics for the Dowager Lady to nourish her body."
The Dowager Lady laughed heartily. "What a filial child. You've come at just the right time today. Your aunt was discussing with me about finalizing the marriage with your family. How about you go back today and ask your parents when they are available? The two families can sit down and have a good discussion."
Upon hearing the Dowager Lady's words, Xiao Heng cast a glance at Lin Yuan.
Sensing Xiao Heng's gaze, Lin Yuan lowered her head again, her small face turning bright red.
This made Lady Lin laugh. "This girl is getting shy!"
As she spoke, Lady Lin turned to Xiao Heng. "Heng'er, you know that both of you are no longer young. It's time to settle this marriage."
Xiao Heng nodded, seemingly in agreement with Lady Lin's words.
However, he suddenly turned to Qiao Nian. "What does Miss Qiao think?"
Qiao Nian was taken aback, looking at Xiao Heng with a gaze filled with confusion and inquiry.
What did this have to do with her?
Not only Qiao Nian, but even Lady Lin and Lin Yuan were stunned.
Lin Yuan looked at Xiao Heng, then at Qiao Nian, and suddenly realized that when Xiao Heng was talking to the Dowager Lady just now, he had actually been looking at Qiao Nian.
Her eyes instantly turned red.
Could it be that the person Xiao Heng truly had feelings for was Qiao Nian?
But he was her fiancé!
Lady Lin immediately noticed Lin Yuan's distress. However, Xiao Heng was currently in favor with the Emperor, and even she didn't dare to speak to him harshly.
She could only force a gentle smile and say, "Heng'er, why do you need to ask Nian Nian about your marriage with Yuan'er?"
Yes, why ask her?
Qiao Nian had the same question in her mind.
Only Xiao Heng remained as gentle and refined as ever. "Aunt Lin, please don't misunderstand. Miss Qiao is still nominally the eldest young lady of the Marquis' Mansion. Yuan'er also addresses her as elder sister. There is an order of seniority. If there is a marriage, it is only proper to consider Miss Qiao first."
These words... were somewhat reasonable.
After all, in those families that highly value rules and traditions, if the eldest daughter has not married, the younger siblings are not allowed to get married.
However, the Marquis' Mansion has never placed much importance on such rules.
As far as Qiao Nian knew, the Xiao family was not a family that adhered so strictly to such conventions either.
For Xiao Heng to say this now, he probably just hoped that she would get married as soon as possible.
Was he worried that she would still pester him as she used to?
Qiao Nian felt like laughing inwardly, but on the surface, she just curled her lips slightly. "According to what General Xiao said, the Young Marquis should get married first."
After all, the Young Marquis was her "elder brother".
But there was not even the slightest sign of Lin Ye getting married. If they had to wait for Lin Ye to get married, and then for her to get married before Lin Yuan and Xiao Heng could tie the knot, it would probably be another year or two.
He might not be in a hurry, but Xiao Heng's parents were surely eager to hold grandson!
But Xiao Heng seemed not to notice the sarcasm in her words. Instead, he nodded seriously. "That's only right."
Hearing this, Lin Yuan, sitting opposite, stared at Xiao Heng with red eyes.
It seemed as if she was questioning him with her eyes, asking why he was doing this.
She was already considered an older unmarried woman. He could wait, but how could she?
However, even Lady Lin didn't know how to respond to Xiao Heng's argument. The topic seemed to end there without further discussion.
After a few more casual exchanges, the Dowager Lady pleaded tiredness and asked Qiao Nian to help her back to her room to rest.
Lady Lin then led Lin Yuan and Xiao Heng to bid farewell.
Not long after Xiao Heng left the Dowager Lady's courtyard, he heard a gentle voice from behind. "Brother Heng."
For a moment, Xiao Heng thought it was Qiao Nian.
But this voice was too soft, not as sharp as Qiao Nian's.
He let out a silent sigh before turning around.
Glancing at Lady Lin, who was walking away not far off, Xiao Heng then shifted his gaze back to Lin Yuan. "What's the matter?"
His deep voice carried a touch of tenderness, as usual.
Lin Yuan always felt that Xiao Heng spoke to her with a special tenderness. He always maintained a proper distance and courtesy with others.
So, Lin Yuan had always believed that Xiao Heng treated her differently.
But today, for the first time, she felt a sense of distance hidden beneath that tenderness.
Thinking that she might have been imagining things all these years, Lin Yuan's eyes welled up with tears. Her eyes were red, like a wounded little rabbit.
She lowered her head, bit her lip, and her hands fidgeted nervously with the hem of her dress. Finally, she summoned the courage to ask, "Brother Heng, do you... not want to marry me?"
Xiao Heng didn't expect Lin Yuan to ask such a question. After a moment of surprise, he smiled, looking calm and unperturbed. "Why would you ask such a thing?"
"You, you just now..."
Lin Yuan found it hard to continue.
Saying too much would make her seem too eager to get married.
As a woman, she still needed to maintain some dignity.
Xiao Heng looked at her and already understood what she wanted to say. Yet, he still replied indifferently, "Don't think too much. The engagement between you and me was decided by the elders in our families. It won't change."
With that, he gave a faint smile. "I'll come to see you in a few days." Then he turned and left.
Lin Yuan stood there, quietly watching Xiao Heng's retreating figure.
His last words seemed to give her a sense of reassurance.
But...
He still hadn't answered her question.
On the other side, inside the Lin family ancestral hall, Lin Ye was kneeling and sitting by the side. On the ground in front of him was the Lin family genealogy, which had been flipped through so much that it was a bit wrinkled.
Previously, Lin Ye didn't believe Qiao Nian's words.
How could Father be so heartless as to let Nian Nian change her name?
However, he had flipped through this genealogy more than a dozen times, but still couldn't find Qiao Nian's name.
There was no trace of Lin Nian, nor Qiao Nian.
He couldn't understand.
It was just a broken glazed bowl. Why did they have to remove her name from the genealogy?
It was just a bowl!
Did removing her name mean that others wouldn't know that Qiao Nian was raised by their Lin family?
Even though Qiao Nian was not of the Lin family's blood, they had raised her for fifteen years! Did fifteen years of affection mean nothing compared to that one bowl?
No wonder Qiao Nian showed no joy when she saw him after three years.
No wonder she refused to call Lady Lin mother or him elder brother!
Lin Ye took a deep breath. For a moment, he seemed to understand Qiao Nian.
But soon, that strange anger in his heart flared up again.
After all, this genealogy was just a few pieces of paper. Even if Qiao Nian's name wasn't on it, could it erase the love and care they had given her over the past fifteen years?
Even if they had raised a dog for fifteen years, feeding it well and giving it everything it wanted, it would wag its tail at them. But what about her?
In the end, she was just too vengeful!
They had already brought her back. Mother had even said that everything would be the same. Couldn't they just get along as they used to?
Why did she have to make the relationship so tense?
Thinking of Qiao Nian's cold and distant demeanor, Lin Ye felt extremely gloomy.
He thought it was time for her to learn a lesson.