At the sight of the Prince of Ming, everyone knelt down to pay their respects.
Xiao Heng had received an imperial decree exempting him from kneeling even when facing the Emperor. So, at the moment, he simply cupped his hands and bowed.
Before Qiao Nian could kneel, the Prince of Ming had already supported her.
His large hand carried a scorching warmth. When he held her, he could clearly feel her body trembling.
He hadn't expected that she, who had faced Lin Ye's brutal beating so calmly in front of everyone, was actually trembling so violently.
Qiao Nian also didn't know why the Prince of Ming, who had left with the abbot, had suddenly appeared. But at this moment, she was still grateful for his arrival.
Lin Ye had really gone too far. She could barely stand anymore. If the Prince of Ming hadn't shown up in time, she might have fallen back to the ground in front of everyone.
"Thank you," she whispered. Her voice was so soft and faint that it couldn't be heard by outsiders.
However, the Prince of Ming heard it clearly.
These two soft words were like two needles, piercing deeply into his heart.
As a result, his anger flared up even more.
He glared at Lin Ye immediately. "The Young Marquis truly has an audacious demeanor. In this sacred Buddhist place, you dare to brutally beat someone under this king's protection. It seems the Marquis' Mansion really doesn't take this king seriously, nor does it respect the Emperor!"
Such a serious accusation left Lin Ye stunned. He quickly kowtowed. "Your humble servant wouldn't dare!"
"Wouldn't dare? In this sacred Buddhist place, you've injured someone like this. What else wouldn't you, the Young Marquis, dare to do?" The Prince of Ming gave an order on the spot. "Someone! Beat him severely for this king! Beat him until he can't get up!"
"Yes!"
The attending servants received the order and immediately stepped forward to press Lin Ye to the ground.
Then, they picked up the brooms nearby and started hitting Lin Ye's back with all their might.
The dull thuds made everyone present feel uneasy.
Just then, a figure rushed towards Lin Ye without hesitation and threw herself on his back. "Don't hit my elder brother! If you must hit someone, hit me!"
It was Lin Yuan.
The servants in charge of the punishment were at a loss for a moment, not knowing whether they should continue.
Qiao Nian watched this scene and silently averted her gaze.
Sometimes, she really admired Lin Yuan. She always managed to step forward and protect Lin Ye, as well as everyone in the Lin family, at crucial moments.
That was why Qiao Nian had held such a grudge against her silence three years ago.
The Prince of Ming looked at Qiao Nian quietly.
Seeing her pale lips trembling slightly, his heart also started to tremble.
Then, steeling his heart, he said in a deep voice, "Since Miss Lin insists so strongly, this king will grant your wish. Start!"
The servants received the order and immediately raised their brooms high.
Unexpectedly, three voices rang out simultaneously.
"Don't!"
"Not allowed!"
"Wait!"
They were from Lin Ye, who was now protecting Lin Yuan in his arms, and the Xiao siblings.
At this moment, they were no longer silent.
Xiao Qingnuan's eyes were slightly red, looking even more aggrieved than when she was slapped by Qiao Nian. "Your Highness, this matter has nothing to do with Miss Lin. Please don't implicate the innocent."
The Prince of Ming didn't even glance at her. He let out a low laugh, full of contempt. "Who do you think you are, daring to be so presumptuous in front of this king?"
"My younger sister was rude. Please forgive her, Your Highness," Xiao Heng stepped forward, cupping his hands in salute. Although his words were respectful, his attitude was neither servile nor overbearing, almost as if he was on an equal footing with the Prince of Ming.
His gaze fell on Qiao Nian, who was half - leaning against the Prince of Ming. Something obscure flashed in his eyes. He said in a deep voice, "However, Your Highness, please consider this carefully. Otherwise, if this matter reaches the Emperor's ears, I'm afraid..."
"Are you threatening this king?" The Prince of Ming raised his eyebrow slightly. Although he feared the Emperor, if someone dared to ride roughshod over him, even the Emperor's presence wouldn't make a difference!
Meeting the Prince of Ming's sharp gaze, Xiao Heng returned it with equal sharpness. "Your humble servant is merely considering the overall situation."
Since the Prince of Ming was going to marry into the Marquis' Mansion after all, he couldn't afford to make things too ugly.
But upon hearing this, the Prince of Ming sneered. "General Xiao truly has a grand vision. With such a grand vision, why were you silent just now? Were you struck dumb?"
When Qiao Nian was being beaten just now, had his mouth been sewn shut?
Hearing the Prince of Ming's question, Qiao Nian's heart couldn't help but ache.
But she had already given up on Xiao Heng. She had long since seen clearly that Xiao Heng didn't like her.
Why did her heart still hurt so much?
She gently bit her lip, hating her own weakness. There was something warm in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it.
Xiao Heng subconsciously observed Qiao Nian's expression. From his angle, she was half - hidden behind the Prince of Ming, in an intimate posture, which made him feel even more irritated.
At the moment, his tone carried a hint of hostility. "Everyone can tell who is right and who is wrong in today's matter. The Young Marquis was just disciplining his younger sister. Although he may have been a bit too harsh, it's ultimately a family matter of the Marquis' Mansion. This humble servant has no right to interfere, and neither do you, Your Highness."
Xiao Heng's excuse of it being a family matter indeed put the Prince of Ming in a difficult position.
Even though he was a prince, he had no reason to meddle in someone else's family affairs.
Moreover, another important reason for him to marry Qiao Nian was to establish connections with the Marquis' Mansion. If he went too far today, it might...
Seeing the Prince of Ming fall silent, Xiao Heng cast a glance at the servants.
As a military general who was decisive in battle, with just one look, he made the servants put down their brooms in fear.
At this moment, Lin Yuan was crying uncontrollably in Lin Ye's arms. "Woo - woo - woo, are you okay, elder brother? Woo - woo - woo, it's all my fault... I don't want this hairpin anymore. I don't want the night pearl either. I just want elder brother to be safe, woo - woo - woo..."
As she spoke, Lin Yuan was about to take off the hairpin on her head, but Lin Ye held her hand tightly. "Nonsense. What I gave you is yours. Even if you don't want it, no one else can lay a finger on it!"
Everyone knew exactly who the "someone else" referred to.
Qiao Nian took a deep breath. Her body started to tremble even more violently, and she wasn't sure whether it was because of the injuries on her back or Lin Ye's words.
The Prince of Ming became worried about Qiao Nian's injuries. He glared at the others and said, "This king indeed has no right to interfere in the family affairs of the Marquis' Mansion. But Qiao Nian is the one this king has taken a fancy to. Since you've touched someone under this king's protection, you must pay the price!"
He then gave a solemn order. "Pull Miss Lin away and beat him severely for this king!"
"Yes!" The servants responded and immediately pulled Lin Yuan away.
Lin Yuan refused, crying and struggling, but she couldn't break free from the grip of the two servants.
Lin Ye was then pressed to the ground again and was being beaten severely.
The Prince of Ming didn't continue to watch. Instead, he turned around and picked up Qiao Nian, who could no longer stand, in a bridal carry and strode out of the temple.
Seeing this scene, Xiao Heng's eyes almost shot out flames.
In full view of everyone, what was the Prince of Ming doing to Qiao Nian's reputation?
He was about to step forward to stop them, but his sister held him back.
He looked back and saw Xiao Qingnuan shaking her head slightly at him. Only then did he realize that he really had no right to chase after them now.
But was he just going to watch helplessly as she fell into another man's arms in the future?
Xiao Heng suppressed the jealousy welling up in his heart and clenched his fists tightly.