Qiao Nian had once adored her elder brother deeply. Her elder brother would drive away those disrespectful libertines for her, search out the most delicious fruits in the world for her, and had even presented her with the one - of - a - kind night pearl.
In Qiao Nian's heart, Lin Ye used to be an all - capable and truly remarkable elder brother.
However, ever since Lin Yuan returned, Lin Ye had become a brainless, impulsive, and reckless fool who only knew how to wrong her and smear her reputation.
Just like right now.
Lin Ye's grip on Qiao Nian's arm was causing her pain, and her brows furrowed deeply.
Before she could say anything, Lady Lin slapped Lin Ye's arm. "What are you doing? Let go of your sister at once!"
"Mother! Why do you always protect her? There were only the two of you in the carriage. Dare she say it wasn't her who made you cry?" Lin Ye glared at Qiao Nian with a fierce scowl. "I'm warning you. Even if I've done something wrong to you, it has nothing to do with Mother. Stop putting on an act in front of Mother. If you make her cry again, I'll never forgive you!"
After saying that, Lin Ye tried to fling Qiao Nian away violently.
But suddenly, he remembered Qiao Nian's sprained ankle. So, he lessened the force of his action and instead pushed Qiao Nian to the side.
Qiao Nian was pushed back three steps. Fortunately, Ningshuang, who knew roughly when Qiao Nian would return, had been waiting outside the mansion for a while. When Lin Ye pushed Qiao Nian, Ningshuang was already standing behind her and promptly steadied her.
"What are you doing!" Lady Lin also pushed Lin Ye, but with his sturdy build, how could she move him?
Seeing that Lin Ye remained firmly in place, Lady Lin pounded his arm twice more. "It has nothing to do with your sister. I cried on my own. Can you please change your impulsive nature?"
"Mother, don't you think what you're saying is ridiculous?" Lin Ye was convinced that Lady Lin was taking Qiao Nian's side. "Before she came back, when did you ever cry for no reason? But since she's been back just a few days, how many times have you cried already? It's only the second day of the first lunar month today! Qiao Nian, don't you think..."
"Don't think that those three years in the palace are something to be proud of," Qiao Nian interrupted Lin Ye, or perhaps she was voicing what he had been about to say. "Those three years, I owed the Marquis' Mansion and Lin Yuan. I was just repaying my debt. Is that what you wanted to say, Young Marquis?"
Naturally, it was.
Lin Ye had wanted to tell Qiao Nian not to use those three years to bully Mother.
But these words, which he had intended to blurt out just now, sounded different coming from Qiao Nian's mouth.
He didn't know why, but that feeling of something tugging at his heart welled up again.
Then Qiao Nian continued, "There's no need for the Young Marquis to remind me of this time and again. Qiao Nian is well aware of it. I will keep to my place and won't cause any more trouble for the Marquis' Mansion. However, for the remaining few months, please, Young Marquis, leave me alone."
With that, she bowed slightly to Lady Lin and then turned to enter the mansion.
Before today, Qiao Nian had felt like an outsider in the Marquis' Mansion. But now, things were different.
The Marquis' Mansion and the Prince of Ming needed her.
So she could firmly tell Lin Ye to leave her alone.
Even after Qiao Nian entered the mansion, Lin Ye was still a bit dazed.
He knew that Qiao Nian had changed since she returned from the laundry bureau. She was aloof and distant, eager to keep away from them all. Even when angry, she would only respond with an even colder demeanor.
But today...
A sense of unease welled up in his heart. Lin Ye turned to Lady Lin and couldn't help asking, "Mother, what on earth happened?"
Lady Lin furrowed her brows slightly. Knowing that she couldn't hide this from Lin Ye, she said in a low voice, "Let's talk about it when we get back."
Lin Ye followed Lady Lin to Luomei Courtyard.
Thanks to the care of the mansion doctor, Lin Yuan's illness had greatly improved. Apart from an occasional cough, she was almost fully recovered.
When Lady Lin and Lin Ye arrived, she was admiring the plum blossoms in the courtyard.
Seeing that she was dressed thinly, Lady Lin frowned. "You're not fully recovered yet. Why are you out here? And you're wearing so little. Hurry, go inside!"
She escorted Lin Yuan into the room, then called Xiaocui to bring hot water. After that, she took out a small medicine bottle from her bosom. "Noble Consort De heard that you've been coughing badly. She specially had someone get these pills from the Imperial Hospital. They're said to be from the Medicine King Valley. The Empress had a cough for half a month, and she was cured by taking these."
Lin Ye watched as Lady Lin personally fed the medicine to Lin Yuan. He immediately understood why Lady Lin had rushed to Lin Yuan's place as soon as she returned to the mansion.
He was naturally worried about Lin Yuan too. But seeing that Lin Yuan's complexion was normal and he hadn't heard a single cough since they arrived, he figured she was fine. Now, he was worried about something else.
"Mother, you haven't told me yet. What happened between you and Nian Nian? Why were you crying so much in the carriage? And what does Nian Nian mean by 'the remaining few months'?"
Lady Lin watched as Lin Yuan swallowed the pill, then let out a long sigh. She took Lin Yuan's hand and sat down beside her. Then, she looked at Lin Ye. "I've arranged a marriage for Nian Nian. In three months, she will go to Gucheng with the Prince of Ming. So, for these three months, you stay put and stop bothering her! After she leaves, we don't know when she'll be back..."
At this point, Lady Lin felt a pang in her nose and her eyes turned slightly red.
But Lin Ye was enraged. "Mother! Are you out of your mind? How could you marry Nian Nian to the Prince of Ming?"
Lin Yuan looked puzzled. "Brother, why are you so angry? Although His Highness the Prince of Ming is just an idle prince, he has a noble status. Once sister becomes a princess consort, she will naturally be respected by everyone. What's wrong with that?"
Lin Yuan thought that Qiao Nian's marriage was a good thing.
But Lin Ye beside her was furious. He couldn't help pacing back and forth. "Mother, you clearly know about the Prince of Ming... You, you..."
He really couldn't say those words in front of Lin Yuan. Fortunately, Lady Lin understood everything.
She took a deep breath, lowered her head, and wiped away a tear. Then she said, "So what do you think I should do? Nian Nian came out of the laundry bureau. We may still call her the eldest miss of our Marquis' Mansion, but who outside doesn't know that she no longer has the Lin surname? What kind of good family do you think I can find for her?"
"But, but it can't be the Prince of Ming!" Lin Ye said resentfully. "Aren't you pushing her into a blazing pit?"
"What blazing pit!" Lady Lin scolded in a low voice. "You're so grown - up, but still speak without thinking. What if these words get spread? Do you still want your head?"
Only then did Lin Ye realize that he had spoken out of turn. He shut his mouth sheepishly, but his chest was heaving violently.
Seeing that Lin Ye was truly enraged, Lady Lin finally let out a long sigh and tried to soothe him. "You don't need to be so angry. Nian Nian has agreed to this marriage."
Hearing this, Lin Ye stared at Lady Lin in shock and demanded with a furrowed brow, "Did you tell her everything?"
And she still agreed?
Lady Lin seemed to be lost in thought for a moment. Then she averted her gaze and nodded slightly.