After returning to the Marquis' Mansion, Qiao Nian intended to pay her respects to her grandmother but was informed that her grandmother had already gone to bed.
She thought that since her grandmother could fall asleep, it meant she hadn't heard about the events at Fahua Temple today. This put her mind at ease to some extent.
When she returned to Fanghe Courtyard, Ningshuang was waiting for her with a pale face. Qiao Nian's heart twitched at the thought of Lin Ye's kick earlier.
However, Ningshuang acted as if nothing had happened and came forward to help Qiao Nian change her clothes.
After some thought, Qiao Nian finally spoke. "Ningshuang, is there anywhere else you'd like to go?"
Upon hearing this, Ningshuang was taken aback. Her already pale face turned even paler. "Is Miss trying to send this servant away?"
Qiao Nian shook her head. "I'm not trying to send you away. I just... I'm afraid of implicating you."
If it hadn't been for her today, Ningshuang wouldn't have suffered this undeserved misfortune.
But to her surprise, Ningshuang's emotions suddenly became agitated. "This servant isn't afraid! Miss, please don't send me away. This servant wants to stay by Miss's side and protect you!"
Perhaps her emotions were too intense. As soon as she finished speaking, she started coughing violently. After a few coughs, she spat out a mouthful of blood.
Qiao Nian was shocked. She quickly stepped forward to help her sit down. "What's going on? Haven't you seen the mansion doctor?"
Ningshuang managed to stop coughing and then said, "I have. The mansion doctor said I have internal injuries and should avoid getting too emotional."
But if Qiao Nian were to send her away, her emotions would flare up, causing her to cough continuously and spit out blood like just now.
Qiao Nian understood what Ningshuang meant. Although she didn't understand why Ningshuang was so determined to stay by her side, thinking of how she had risked everything to protect her earlier, Qiao Nian's heart softened.
She curved her lips into a smile. "All right, I see. Then I'll try my best not to make you angry, Miss Ningshuang."
"Miss isn't making Ningshuang angry!" Ningshuang thought Qiao Nian had misunderstood and was about to explain. But seeing the smile on Qiao Nian's lips, she realized what Qiao Nian meant.
Her eyes red, she took Qiao Nian's hand. "This servant will definitely protect Miss well in the future and never let Miss suffer such grievances again."
The little girl's tears were always so moving.
Qiao Nian felt like crying too. She sniffed and smiled. "Silly girl, before you protect me in the future, you have to take care of yourself first. Otherwise, I really will send you away."
"All right!" Ningshuang nodded vigorously. Secretly, she thought that she was of lowly status and there was nothing worth protecting.
In the future, she still had to protect Miss well!
The next day, the imperial decree of marriage from the palace indeed arrived. immediately after, a stream of imperial gifts followed into the Marquis' Mansion.
Some were from the Emperor, and some were from the Noble Consort.
Looking at the countless treasures of gold, silver, and jewels, Lin Yuan stood aside, envy evident on her face. "The Emperor and the Noble Consort must really like sister. Sister is so blessed!"
Was she really so blessed?
Qiao Nian turned to look at Lin Yuan. Seeing her looking at her with joy, and noticing that there were no other complicated emotions in her eyes except envy, Qiao Nian was certain that Lin Yuan wasn't mocking her.
But...
She looked at Lin Yuan and curved her lips into a faint smile. "If you envy me so much, how about we swap?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Yuan was stunned.
Swap?
Let her marry the Prince of Ming?
But elder brother had clearly said that the Prince of Ming was like a pit of fire, and marrying him was like jumping into a fire pit. She definitely didn't want to marry the Prince of Ming!
She was going to marry Brother Heng!
Thinking this, Lin Yuan quickly shook her head, her eyes showing a hint of fear. She really seemed to be afraid that Qiao Nian would take something away from her.
This reaction was truly ridiculous compared to what she had said earlier.
Qiao Nian couldn't help but shake her head slightly and let out a soft laugh.
Lady Lin obviously knew that Lin Yuan's words earlier were inappropriate. She quickly stepped forward to interrupt. "The Prince of Ming is still recuperating these days. He sent word that he'll take you to the place you two agreed on some time later."
The place they agreed on?
Qiao Nian slightly furrowed her brows. Then she remembered that the Prince of Ming had said yesterday that he would take her to a certain place after everything was over.
But this couldn't really be considered an agreement, could it? He left without even waiting for her answer.
Just as she was thinking, Lin Yuan leaned in again. "Where did His Highness the Prince of Ming and sister agree to go? Is it fun?"
"..."
Looking at her beaming face, Qiao Nian suddenly thought of something.
She looked at Lin Yuan and asked in a solemn voice, "Yesterday, was it you who told His Highness the Prince of Ming that I would be at Fahua Temple?"
She remembered that Lin Yuan seemed to have mentioned it.
Upon hearing this, Lin Yuan was taken aback and then nodded.
Qiao Nian's brows furrowed slightly. So, upon careful consideration, what she had suffered yesterday was also related to Lin Yuan.
If the Prince of Ming hadn't stepped in for her outside the temple and led her in, Xiao Qingnuan wouldn't have spoken so rudely to her.
She had long been numb to those words mocking her lowly status during her days in the laundry bureau. She would never have slapped Xiao Qingnuan just because of those words.
So...
She looked at Lin Yuan, her eyes slightly cold. "Why did you tell him?"
Lin Yuan had seen Qiao Nian get angry before. Seeing Qiao Nian's expression now, she knew that Qiao Nian was angry.
She was startled, as if afraid that Qiao Nian would hit her, and took two steps back. "I... I just heard about you and the Prince of Ming, and I... I thought I'd give you a push and bring you two together..."
"So, I should thank you?" Qiao Nian let out a cold laugh, her lips curling with strong sarcasm. "A legitimate daughter of the Marquis' Mansion is so interested in someone else's marriage. Should I praise you for being so enthusiastic or for having no sense of shame?"
"Niannian!" Lady Lin exclaimed in a low voice. She quickly shielded the almost - crying Lin Yuan behind her. "Your sister was just trying to be kind. She... she didn't have any other motives. Please don't be angry. You're both my daughters. I can't bear to see either of you being wronged."
Qiao Nian finally withdrew her gaze from Lin Yuan's face.
She glanced at Lady Lin, her smile not reaching her eyes. "Does Lady Lin find her own words amusing?"
This was the first time Qiao Nian had talked back to Lady Lin since she returned from the laundry bureau.
Previously, she always saw through things but didn't say anything.
But some people, after telling so many lies, actually started to believe them themselves. In the end, they even regarded her as the bad guy.
So she thought it was necessary to make things clear.
Lady Lin never expected Qiao Nian to talk to her like this. Her breath caught in her throat, and tears instantly welled up and fell.
This scene was just seen by Lin Ye.
He had heard about the Emperor's decree of marriage and the numerous gifts. He wanted to come and ease the relationship with Qiao Nian while she was in a good mood today.
Therefore, even though he needed to be helped by servants, he limped over.
Unexpectedly, what he saw was his mother and sister being bullied to tears.
He was immediately enraged and shouted at Qiao Nian, "Qiao Nian, do you have any conscience left? Relying on the Emperor's decree of marriage, are you now so blatant as to bully mother?"