The next day.
When Qiao Nian woke up, she felt that the injury on her head was even more painful than yesterday.
As a result, she was drowsy and listless.
Ningshuang, on the other hand, seemed quite energetic. After attending to Qiao Nian's grooming, she busily served Qiao Nian breakfast.
Qiao Nian forced herself to look spirited, not wanting to worry Ningshuang. After inquiring about the Old Lady's condition and learning that the Old Lady was in good health, she finally felt at ease and started having breakfast.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that Ningshuang seemed to have something to say but hesitated several times.
She put down her chopsticks. "If you have something to say, just say it directly."
Only then did Ningshuang come closer and said to Qiao Nian, "Miss, this servant heard that the Young Marquis and the Second Miss knelt in the ancestral hall all night. This morning, the Second Miss couldn't hold on and fainted."
So that was the matter.
Qiao Nian picked up her chopsticks again. "Her health is quite poor then."
Couldn't even hold on after just kneeling for one night?
Back in the Laundry Bureau, she had knelt day and night.
Ningshuang thought about it and felt that Qiao Nian was quite right. "Well, it's really not that great. I wonder where all those precious herbs she's been taking have gone to!"
Qiao Nian just smiled but didn't say anything.
She thought that perhaps Lin Ye couldn't bear to see Lin Yuan punished and deliberately came up with the idea for Lin Yuan to pretend to faint.
Seeing the mocking smile on her young lady's lips, Ningshuang felt a bit uneasy and added, "But don't worry, Miss. The Young Marquis is still kneeling. Lady Lin has forbidden anyone to send him food and said he has to kneel for three days and three nights before he's allowed to get up! Lord Marquis seems to have acquiesced to this punishment."
Hearing Ningshuang's tone, which seemed to be trying to comfort her, Qiao Nian looked at her and asked softly, "So, do you think this punishment is severe?"
Ningshuang was stunned for a moment. Then she immediately thought of what had happened that night.
Those two burly men barged in and pushed her away with such force, making her clearly aware of her own powerlessness.
She remembered the panic and fear she felt when she woke up that night and found that Miss was missing.
Thinking of the injuries Miss had when she came back, a trace of hatred gradually appeared in Ningshuang's eyes.
She shook her head.
The punishment for the Young Marquis was not severe at all. In her opinion, the Young Marquis should be reported to the authorities and let the world know what kind of person he really was!
He was actually capable of harming his own sister's innocence. He didn't deserve to live!
Now, he was just made to kneel for three days and three nights. This punishment was really too light!
Moreover, the Second Miss, who had almost angered the Old Lady to death, had only knelt for one night and then went back!
She knew that the Old Lady was more important than her own life in her young lady's heart. If it weren't for the Old Lady this time, Miss would never have swallowed this humiliation!
Qiao Nian was quite satisfied with the trace of hatred in Ningshuang's eyes. It was just the right amount.
She took two more bites but couldn't eat any more. She pointed to her head and said, "Take off the gauze for me to have a look. If the injury isn't noticeable, we'll go and see Grandmother."
"Yes." Ningshuang stepped forward and removed the gauze from Qiao Nian's head.
After being wrapped for a whole night, there were deep marks on her forehead from the pressure. Fortunately, the injury on her head seemed to be hidden by her hair bun. It shouldn't be noticeable unless one looked closely.
Qiao Nian looked at herself in the bronze mirror several times. After making sure that the Old Lady wouldn't notice anything amiss, she said, "Then let's go and pay our respects to Grandmother first."
She wondered how Grandmother was feeling today!
As she spoke, Qiao Nian stood up. But suddenly, her vision went black, and she fell back onto the stool.
"Miss!" Ningshuang was greatly alarmed and asked with deep concern, "What's wrong, Miss? This servant will go and fetch the mansion doctor!"
"No need." Qiao Nian reached out to stop Ningshuang. Her brows knitted tightly. She slowly opened her eyes. When her vision cleared, she said, "I probably stood up too quickly. It's nothing serious."
She had experienced this kind of situation before in the Laundry Bureau. As long as she sat down and took a short break, it would be fine. It wasn't a big problem.
But Ningshuang was still worried. "But Miss, you were hit on the head yesterday. It's better to have the mansion doctor take a look!"
Qiao Nian slowly got up and smiled at Ningshuang. "The mansion doctor might be at Grandmother's place. Let's go there first."
Hearing this, Ningshuang thought it made sense and nodded. She stepped forward to help Qiao Nian walk outside.
However, Qiao Nian felt that Ningshuang was being a bit too exaggerated. She wasn't that incapable of walking on her own!
After they left Fanghe Courtyard, Qiao Nian told Ningshuang to let go.
Fanghe Courtyard was in the west of the Marquis Mansion, Luomei Courtyard was in the east, and the Old Lady's courtyard was in the middle of the two.
Moreover, Ningshuang had clearly said that Lin Yuan had fainted this morning. Whether it was true or not, even if it was just pretending, she should have pretended for a while longer.
Therefore, Qiao Nian didn't expect to see Lin Yuan outside the Old Lady's courtyard.
She even less expected Xiao Heng to be there.
But it seemed that Lin Yuan had expected this.
When she saw Qiao Nian, Lin Yuan's eyes reddened visibly. "Elder Sister..."
Her voice carried a faint hint of sobbing, sounding timid, as if she was extremely afraid of Qiao Nian.
Qiao Nian glanced at Lin Yuan's swollen cheek and sneered inwardly.
If she could really scare Lin Yuan, it would be a good thing. But Lin Yuan had angered Grandmother into falling ill yesterday, and she was here again so early this morning. Clearly, she hadn't learned her lesson.
Qiao Nian looked at Xiao Heng beside Lin Yuan before speaking. "I heard that Miss Lin fainted in the ancestral hall this morning."
Lin Yuan didn't know why Qiao Nian suddenly seemed to care about her. Her emotions were quite complex. But thinking of the way Qiao Nian had ridden on her yesterday, she didn't dare to be too presumptuous. She just replied softly, "Yes, but Brother Heng came to see me, and I'm fine now."
Qiao Nian couldn't help but laugh. "I didn't know when General Xiao became a miracle doctor."
Lin Yuan's face flushed immediately. "No, I didn't mean that..."
"I brought some medicine from the army. It's very effective." Xiao Heng spoke up in a timely manner. His deep voice seemed to be finishing the sentence for Lin Yuan, but his sharp gaze moved from Qiao Nian's left hand to her forehead.
The injury on her left hand didn't seem to have worsened after she slapped Lin Yuan. There were still marks on her forehead from the gauze, but no visible wounds.
Where exactly had Lady Lin hit her yesterday?
Subconsciously, he reached for the medicine bottle at his waist. But after holding it in his hand, he remembered that she hadn't used the wound medicine he gave her last time.
He was stunned for a moment.
Lin Yuan was standing beside Xiao Heng. Seeing his actions and the medicine in his hand, she naturally understood who it was for.
It would be a lie to say that she wasn't jealous. Moreover, the injuries on her face were from Qiao Nian's slaps!
But...
She was the legitimate daughter of the Marquis Mansion, a young lady of a noble family, and was destined to be the mistress of the Xiao family in the future. She couldn't be petty.
So, suppressing the jealousy in her heart, she smiled at Xiao Heng. "Brother Heng, is this medicine for Elder Sister?"
Qiao Nian's brows knitted. She felt a sense of nausea for some reason.
But as if thinking of something, Xiao Heng nodded slightly and offered the medicine to Qiao Nian.
Qiao Nian didn't intend to take it. Just as she was about to refuse, she heard Xiao Heng say, "This was sent by Jing Yan."