Coming to see her at this time?
Surely it's not just a simple visit.
Qiao Nian rose to greet her. Upon seeing Lady Lin, she bowed slightly. "Greetings, Lady."
Noticing that Qiao Nian still showed no intention of calling her mother, Lady Lin felt a pang of sadness in her heart.
However, she didn't want to reveal it in front of Qiao Nian. She affectionately stepped forward, took Qiao Nian's hand, and led her to a seat nearby. "Mother was worried that you were too sad, so I came to see you."
Qiao Nian lowered her eyes and remained silent.
She quietly withdrew her hand.
Lady Lin noticed this and slightly furrowed her brows. She then let out a silent sigh and said, "In fact, your grandmother loves you the most. Even though she knows you're not a biological child of the Lin family, in her heart, you're still her dearest and most cherished granddaughter."
Qiao Nian acknowledged this.
She could tell who was truly kind to her.
Grandmother, despite her poor health, had still managed to plead with the Empress to let her out of the palace. Just this act of kindness was something Qiao Nian could never repay in her lifetime.
Her lowered eyes quivered slightly, and she tried hard to keep Lady Lin from seeing the tears in her eyes.
But having been Qiao Nian's mother for fifteen years, how could Lady Lin not tell how heartbroken Qiao Nian was at this moment?
She let out a gentle sigh and then continued, "Just now, in front of your father, I didn't dare to say much. But I'm not afraid to tell you the truth. Your grandmother... I'm afraid she won't last more than a few months."
Hearing this, Qiao Nian suddenly raised her head, and the tears she had been holding back streamed down her face.
She had just returned a few days ago and hadn't had the chance to spend much time with her grandmother. How could her grandmother...
Lady Lin felt deeply sorry for her. She took out a handkerchief to wipe away Qiao Nian's tears. "Mother knows you love your grandmother the most. But now, there's not much we can do. The only thing we can do is to put your grandmother's mind at ease, right?"
Qiao Nian understood the hidden meaning in Lady Lin's words. She sniffed and replied, "Lady, please speak your mind."
This simple sentence made the relationship between them seem extremely distant.
Lady Lin's hand, which was about to wipe Qiao Nian's tears, paused. Finally, she withdrew it reluctantly.
Then, she let out a long sigh. "You may think I'm heartless for bringing this up at this time, but what I'm about to say is exactly what your grandmother would most like to say."
At this point, Lady Lin looked at Qiao Nian with a solemn expression. "Nian Nian, you're not young anymore. It's time to find someone to entrust your life to."
To be honest, Qiao Nian had vaguely guessed that Lady Lin wanted to talk about this. But when she actually said it, Qiao Nian still found it a bit ridiculous.
Grandmother was seriously ill and hadn't woken up yet, but Lady Lin was already discussing her lifelong matter.
Although she knew that her lifelong matter was indeed something her grandmother cared about the most, Lady Lin's deliberate visit to her courtyard to say these things made Qiao Nian understand that Lady Lin was not doing this for her grandmother or for her.
It was for Lin Yuan.
Because of Xiao Heng's words that Lin Yuan should get married first.
With the tear stains still on her face, Qiao Nian sniffed and then said, "Since Lady says so, I assume you already have someone in mind?"
There was indeed someone in mind.
In fact, after Xiao Heng said those words, Lady Lin had started thinking about it.
But for now, it was not convenient for her to say. She just said, "Don't worry, Mother will never let you be wronged in this matter. I will make sure you're satisfied and your grandmother is satisfied too."
Yes, under the pretext of putting grandmother at ease, the chosen person naturally had to be someone her grandmother approved of.
Qiao Nian took a deep breath. "In that case, I'll trouble Lady with it."
Her voice was calm, showing no sign of joy or anger.
But this sentence meant that she had agreed, or at least, she had softened her stance.
The gloom on Lady Lin's face vanished instantly, replaced by a hint of relief. "I knew you were the most sensible. Don't worry, Mother will never let you suffer any injustice."
Lady Lin repeated this again.
But the first time she said it, she seemed confident, while the second time, it sounded like an emphasis.
Things that need to be emphasized often indicate that the speaker lacks confidence.
Fortunately, Qiao Nian didn't really believe Lady Lin's promises and didn't take this matter too seriously.
She just thought that as long as it could put her grandmother at ease, it would be fine.
At noon, news came that the grandmother had woken up. Qiao Nian immediately went to see her.
But when she arrived, her grandmother had fallen asleep again.
Nanny Su brought her a cup of hot tea and said softly, "The old lady took some calming medicine. The mansion doctor said it's better for the old lady to sleep more in her current condition."
Hearing this, Qiao Nian felt a bit more at ease. But thinking of Lady Lin's words, her heart still felt bitter.
Looking at the old lady's sleeping face, Qiao Nian couldn't help but recall the words Marquis Lin and Lin Ye had said at the reunion dinner last night.
She was able to return to the Marquis' Mansion only because of the old lady. But she also understood that no matter how her grandmother's health was, she would have to leave the Marquis' Mansion eventually.
Even if Marquis Lin and the others didn't drive her away, since Xiao Heng had said those words, she had become an obstacle to the marriage between the Lin and Xiao families.
It was understandable that Lady Lin was eager to marry her off.
Last night, she had thought for a long time but couldn't figure out what she could do after leaving the Marquis' Mansion to put the old lady's mind at ease, considering she had no relatives or anyone to rely on. But Lady Lin's words today had given her an idea.
Perhaps getting married was the only way.
She naturally didn't expect a relationship where two people stay together for a lifetime. Nor did she expect anyone in this world to love her.
Love was such a fleeting thing.
She couldn't even hold onto family affection, let alone love.
However, if she married someone her grandmother approved of, it would put her grandmother at ease. At least, it would prevent her grandmother from worrying about her during her lifetime.
It was her fault that she couldn't do much for her grandmother. This might be the only thing she could do.
After her grandmother passed away, if she could get along harmoniously with her husband, they would live their lives together. If not, they could get divorced. By then, she would have no connection with the others in the Marquis' Mansion.
Thinking like this, it seemed to be the only way out for her now.
Qiao Nian took a deep breath. Even though she was holding a cup of hot tea, her ten fingers were still cold.
So she didn't dare to touch the old lady. She just looked at her face and whispered, "Grandmother, please get better soon."
Get better, so that she could happily watch her get married.
It had to be said that Lady Lin was very efficient.
She got Qiao Nian's consent on the first day of the first lunar month, and on the second day, she took Qiao Nian to the palace to meet her future husband.
Qiao Nian was very reluctant to enter the palace. But since Noble Consort De had sent an invitation, it would be disrespectful if she didn't go.
And she never expected that Lady Lin would be so bold.
The future husband she found for Qiao Nian was actually the son of Noble Consort De, His Highness the Prince of Ming, the current emperor's son.