Those words seemed to hit a raw nerve of Lady Lin. Her eyes suddenly widened, and tears streamed down her face.
She pointed at Lin Ye, her voice trembling. "How could I ever have thought of killing Niannian? I raised her with my own hands!"
By the end, she was sobbing uncontrollably.
Seeing Lady Lin like this, Lin Ye panicked and quickly apologized. "I was wrong, Mother. Don't be angry! It's all my fault!"
But in response to Lin Ye's apology, Lady Lin just turned her back, as if she didn't want to hear him.
At this sight, Lin Ye's brows knitted tightly.
He glanced at Lin Yuan's face and then said coldly, "In the end, it's all Niannian's fault. How could she be so vicious? How could she hit Yuan'er so hard!"
That beautiful face was beaten into such a state!
Unexpectedly, a voice came from the side room.
"If it weren't for the Second Miss's loose tongue, the Old Lady wouldn't have fallen ill again. The Eldest Miss was just teaching the Second Miss a lesson on behalf of the Old Lady. I'm sure the Old Lady will praise the Eldest Miss when she wakes up."
It was Nanny Su who spoke.
As she spoke, she walked up to the four of them and curtsied to Lord Lin.
Nanny Su was an old servant in the Marquis Mansion.
She had followed the Old Lady when she married into the Marquis Mansion and had watched Lord Lin grow up.
Although nominally just a servant, to Lord Lin, Nanny Su was more like an elder.
Therefore, he immediately returned the greeting with a respectful bow.
Then Nanny Su said, "Thanks to the Second Miss, the old servant and the Old Lady are now aware of all the recent events in the Marquis Mansion."
Hearing this, Lord Lin couldn't help but look back at Lin Yuan.
Even though Lin Yuan still wore a pitiable and appealing look, a trace of anger rose in Lord Lin's heart.
They all knew why the Old Lady had fallen ill today.
But before he could say anything, Nanny Su continued, "First, the Young Marquis hired people to harm others. Then, the Second Miss, regardless of the Old Lady's condition, started making wild accusations. And then, Madam almost killed someone with a stone..."
As she spoke, Nanny Su's sharp gaze swept over each of them.
Even Lin Ye didn't dare to act rashly in front of Nanny Su. He obediently lowered his eyes and kept his mouth shut.
Then Nanny Su said, "Lord Marquis, please don't blame the old servant for being an old - timer and being presumptuous. But considering all that has happened these two days, if you don't discipline the family more strictly, I'm afraid great disaster will befall the Marquis Mansion."
She said "great disaster" instead of "big event".
The severity of her words made Lord Lin feel a sense of panic.
He quickly replied, "What Nanny said is right."
The status of the Marquis Mansion in the court was already precarious. The Emperor had several times considered revoking the mansion's hereditary title.
He had been so focused on protecting this honor that he had indeed neglected the discipline of the family.
It was bad enough that Lin Ye had caused trouble. Today, even Yuan'er and Madam...
Lord Lin was truly at his wit's end.
Fortunately, Nanny Su knew when to stop. After saying these words, she turned and left. Otherwise, Lord Lin would have felt extremely ashamed.
After Nanny Su left, Lord Lin finally turned to Lin Yuan. "Yuan'er, you almost angered your grandmother to death today. Do you know what punishment you deserve?"
Since Lin Yuan returned to the mansion three years ago, she had never received such a severe reprimand from Lord Lin. She immediately dropped to her knees with a thud. "Yuan'er knows her mistake. Yuan'er just thought that Elder Sister respects Grandmother the most. If Grandmother pleaded for mercy, she surely wouldn't make things difficult for Elder Brother anymore. Wuwuwu... Yuan'er didn't know Grandmother would fall ill. If I had known, I would never have said those words, even if I were beaten to death!"
In fact, Lord Lin had already guessed that Lin Yuan came to the Old Lady for Lin Ye's sake. The two siblings had a deep bond. And yesterday, Qiao Nian had repeatedly threatened to drag Lin Ye down with her. It was understandable that Lin Yuan was so worried.
Beside them, Lady Lin quickly interceded, "Lord, Yuan'er meant well but did a bad deed. Look at how Niannian has beaten her. How can you have the heart to punish her?"
Lord Lin looked at Lin Yuan's swollen half - face and suddenly remembered how thin and frail she had been when she returned three years ago.
She was almost just skin and bones.
She was their daughter who had been lost for fifteen years. She had suffered during those fifteen years!
Yes, how could he have the heart to punish her?
Taking a deep breath, Lord Lin finally turned his gaze to Lin Ye.
Without further ado, he kicked at him. "It's all your fault, you brat!"
But this time, Lin Ye seemed to be prepared and dodged easily.
Lord Lin missed with his kick and was about to kick again, but Lin Ye quickly hid behind Lady Lin. "Mother! Father kicked me yesterday. My chest still hurts! If he kicks me again, I'll be kicked to death!"
Blocked by Lady Lin, Lord Lin had to withdraw his foot.
Seeing Lady Lin's hesitant expression as if she wanted to plead for Lin Ye, he knew what she was thinking.
He immediately put on a mournful face. "Madam! Look at how spoiled this unfilial son has become because of you. If you continue to protect him, then as Nanny Su said, great disaster will befall the Marquis Mansion!"
Lady Lin was left speechless. But Lin Ye was very stubborn. "What did I do? I just wanted to ruin Niannian's engagement with the Prince of Ming. Who asked her to be so arrogant after being betrothed? If she hadn't made Mother and Yuan'er cry first, why would I have targeted her like this?"
Hearing this, Lady Lin quickly chimed in, "Indeed, Niannian has been a bit arrogant since being betrothed. Although Ye'er is at fault, he was just 心疼 ing me and Yuan'er. There were reasons for his actions. Lord, Ye'er is still injured..."
"You!" Looking at Lady Lin, who was so protective of her son, Lord Lin was so angry that he couldn't say a word. He could only point fiercely at Lin Ye and then storm off, flicking his sleeves.
He walked briskly towards the outside, hoping to find a quiet place to calm down. Before he knew it, he had walked to the outside of Luomei Courtyard.
Over the waist - high courtyard wall, he could clearly see several plum trees in full bloom in the courtyard.
In his mind, he couldn't help but recall the scene of Niannian riding on his shoulders to enjoy the flowers. At that time, Niannian was so obedient.
She loved riding on his shoulders, but she was also afraid of tiring him out. After a while, she would insist on getting down.
Then she would coax him to sit down, and her chubby little hands would gently knead his broad shoulders.
The strength was not strong, but at that time, he felt extremely comfortable.
Lord Lin was momentarily lost in thought.
He suddenly realized that he and Niannian had had such warm moments.
But then he thought, they had lived under the same roof for fifteen years!
She was the daughter he had raised for fifteen years!
Surely, there had been no lack of such warm moments.
It was just that she had changed after coming back this time. She was cold, distant, and carried a sense of mockery towards everyone, as if they all owed her something!
Just because she had been in the Laundry Bureau for three years, could she erase the fifteen - year bond of family affection?
No wonder Ye'er was disheartened and angry!
The way that girl had ridden on Yuan'er today was even a bit scary to him. And his wife, who was always gentle and dignified, had been so frightened that she had resorted to violence!
That girl was really something!
As Lord Lin thought about this, his brows knitted tightly. He then turned around and went back to the study. He picked up a pen and paper, wrote a letter, and ordered someone to send it to the Prince of Ming.
He thought it was time for Qiao Nian to understand her true position.