Ningshuang clearly didn't expect what was inside. She was startled.
But Qiao Nian bent down and picked up that tiny tooth. Along with it, countless fragments of past memories flooded into her mind.
She remembered this tooth.
When she was about five years old, she insisted on joining Lin Ye and Xiao Heng to play around. Imitating Lin Ye and Xiao Heng, she jumped off a high rockery.
Fortunately, Lin Ye and Xiao Heng reached out to catch her at that time, preventing her from being killed on the spot.
However, she lost a tooth.
Everyone was terrified. They escorted her away, leaving the tooth beside the rockery.
Coincidentally, Xiao Qingnuan, who was the same age as her, learned about this. She came specifically to tell Qiao Nian that if a lost tooth couldn't be found, evil spirits would come to take her away.
She was so frightened that at night, she started crying and refused to sleep, fearing that evil spirits would come for her once she fell asleep.
That day, there was thunder and lightning, which made the little Qiao Nian even more scared.
Even Lord Lin's constant embrace and soothing words didn't help.
Until Lady Lin, drenched from head to toe in the rain, returned with a tiny tooth in her hand.
She remembered Lady Lin saying at that time, "Look, Niannian. Mother has found your tooth for you."
"Don't worry. No evil spirits will come to take Niannian. Even if they do, Mother will stand in front of you."
She also said, "Don't be afraid, Niannian. Mother won't let anything happen to you."
Mother won't let anything happen to you...
At that time, Qiao Nian was deeply touched. She hugged Lady Lin and kept crying, saying, "Thank you, Mother. You're so good..."
But now, Qiao Nian only felt a sense of irony.
Of course she understood what Lady Lin meant by showing her this tooth today.
However, her feelings of being touched back then were real, and the pain from the injury on her head now was also real...
She wrapped the tiny tooth back into the small cloth bundle and forced back the tears that were about to spill over.
She said nothing.
Ningshuang naturally didn't dare to ask.
The mistress and maid stayed in the room in silence until the patter of raindrops started to be heard outside.
Ningshuang was slightly startled. She quickly walked to the window and opened a small crack.
Sure enough, it was raining outside, and Lady Lin was still standing in the courtyard, right in the rain.
Feeling anxious, she walked over to Qiao Nian and whispered, "Miss, it's raining. Lady Lin still hasn't left."
Qiao Nian finally didn't remain expressionless. Her brows knitted slightly. "Go and persuade her."
This implied that she still didn't want to see Lady Lin.
Ningshuang couldn't help but let out a long sigh, but she finally agreed.
She held an umbrella and trotted over to Lady Lin. Handing the umbrella to Lady Lin, she said, "Madam, Miss is still not awake. It's not a good idea to keep waiting like this. Why don't you go back first? I'll inform you as soon as Miss wakes up, okay?"
Unexpectedly, Lady Lin shook her head. She even refused Ningshuang's kindness and pushed the umbrella back. "I know she doesn't want to see me. Go and tell her that Mother really knows she's wrong. Please, beg her to give me a chance to apologize."
"Madam..."
"Go!"
Lady Lin's attitude was so firm that Ningshuang suddenly felt that Miss and Lady Lin were somewhat alike in their stubbornness.
For a moment, she didn't know whether to leave or not. She could only stand beside Lady Lin, holding the umbrella for her.
Just then, two figures rushed in from outside.
"Mother!"
"Mother!"
It was Lin Ye and Lin Yuan.
Both of them had maids and servants with them. Although they were all holding umbrellas, the rain was quite heavy today, and they were more or less wet.
Seeing that Lady Lin was almost soaked through, Lin Ye was shocked. He immediately tried to pull Lady Lin away. "Mother, what are you doing torturing yourself like this? Can't this wait until tomorrow?"
"Let go!" Lady Lin shook off Lin Ye's hand. Taking a deep breath, she said, "This has nothing to do with you two. You can leave."
Lin Yuan burst into tears and hugged Lady Lin tightly. "Mother, don't do this. It's all my fault. I was wrong. Please go back with Elder Brother! Yuan'er will stand here for you and apologize to Sister!"
Seeing this, Xiaocui, Lin Yuan's maid, rushed forward to hold an umbrella for her young lady. She pushed Ningshuang aside with a sudden shove.
Ningshuang was caught off - guard by the force and stumbled, falling directly to the ground.
The umbrella in her hand also broke.
But perhaps because the rain was too heavy, Lady Lin and the others didn't even notice.
Seeing that he couldn't persuade his mother, Lin Ye angrily stepped forward and knocked on Qiao Nian's door. "Come out! Stop pretending to be unconscious! I know you're awake! Which child hasn't been beaten by their parents? Mother was a bit impulsive today, but she's here to apologize to you now. What do you mean by refusing to see her? Don't you see how heavy the rain is outside? Qiao Nian! Have you lost your conscience?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the door opened.
Lin Ye, who was about to continue knocking, was stunned on the spot. Meeting Qiao Nian's gaze, which was completely devoid of warmth, he even forgot to lower the hand that was half - raised.
Qiao Nian glanced at Lin Ye indifferently, then her gaze fell on Ningshuang.
Seeing her struggling to get up from the ground in a sorry state, Qiao Nian's eyes darkened instantly.
"Is this how the Marquis Mansion apologizes? By bullying my maid?"
Only then did everyone's eyes turn to Ningshuang.
Ningshuang ignored them and quickly trotted towards Qiao Nian.
Qiao Nian also ignored the others. She just urged Ningshuang to go and change her clothes quickly.
It was not until Ningshuang left that Lin Ye took a deep breath and lowered his hand. "She fell on her own. We didn't even notice."
"I believe that," Qiao Nian said indifferently. Her sharp eyes pierced through the curtain of rain to look directly at Lady Lin. "When have you ever cared about other people's lives?"
When had they ever cared about her life?
These words seemed to pierce Lady Lin's heart. She rushed towards Qiao Nian.
"It's not like that, Niannian..."
She stretched out her hands, seemingly trying to hold Qiao Nian's hands. But Qiao Nian took a step back and put her hands behind her back.
Lady Lin's hands grasped nothing, and her tears flowed even more profusely. "Mother really didn't mean it. Mother was just in a hurry. I couldn't pull you away, so, so I..."
"So you chose to kill me?"
Qiao Nian retorted, a hint of sarcasm even curling her lips.
Lady Lin shook her head repeatedly, crying so much that she didn't even know what to say.
Lin Yuan stepped forward. "Sister, how can you say such things? You know very well that Mother is too weak to even kill a chicken. How could she kill anyone?"
Lin Ye also snorted coldly. "Don't push your luck. Mother has already apologized to you. What more do you want?"
Just then, Qiao Nian suddenly lowered her head and took out that tiny tooth from the small red bundle.
Lin Ye clearly recognized it. His eyes lit up immediately.
Then Qiao Nian said, "How can't she kill? You've killed Lin Nian!"