Deputy General Jing Yan?
The image of a swarthy - skinned man with rugged features emerged in Qiao Nian's mind.
After all, he had saved her. So when Xiao Heng said the medicine was sent by Jing Yan, she didn't feel as resistant.
She reached out and took the wound medicine.
She thought to herself that she really should invite Deputy General Jing to a drink.
Xiao Heng looked at his empty palm, feeling an inexplicable sense of displeasure.
She wouldn't even touch the wound medicine he gave her, but now, when it was said to be from Jing Yan, she took it quite readily!
Xiao Heng was unhappy, but Lin Yuan seemed rather delighted.
So the medicine was sent by Deputy General Jing Yan, not by Brother Heng.
She immediately said with a hint of joy, "I've never seen Deputy General Jing be so thoughtful. When he sent Elder Sister back the other day, he looked worried... Could it be that he has feelings for Elder Sister?"
Qiao Nian really didn't know what was going on in Lin Yuan's mind. A small bottle of wound medicine could actually make her think about love.
A wave of annoyance welled up in Qiao Nian's heart. She looked at Lin Yuan, not hiding her disgust. "Grandmother probably doesn't want to see you. You'd better go back."
Lin Yuan's joyous expression instantly fell. She unconsciously shrank closer to Xiao Heng. "Elder Sister isn't Grandmother. How do you know Grandmother doesn't want to see me?"
Qiao Nian's face darkened. She took an unconscious step towards Lin Yuan, her tone icy. "Do you really not remember what you've done?"
Seeing Qiao Nian approaching, Lin Yuan was immediately reminded of the fear of being pinned to the ground and beaten by Qiao Nian yesterday. She quickly hid behind Xiao Heng, her hands tightly gripping Xiao Heng's clothes. It seemed as if her whole body was trembling. "I... I'm here today to apologize to Grandmother."
Feeling the fear of the person behind him, Xiao Heng's brows knitted slightly. He looked at Qiao Nian. "Yuan'er has realized her mistake. I accompanied her here today specifically to apologize to the Old Lady."
Having said this, Xiao Heng lowered his eyes to glance at Qiao Nian's tightly - clenched fist, then added in a deep voice, "You shouldn't hit people at every turn. Yuan'er is not like you..."
Xiao Heng wanted to say that Yuan'er didn't know martial arts like Qiao Nian. Even if Qiao Nian was injured, she could still beat Lin Yuan without any chance of resistance.
But Qiao Nian didn't want to hear him finish. "That's enough!"
She snapped in a low voice, staring intently at Xiao Heng with slightly cold eyes. "You're not yet the son - in - law of the Marquis Mansion. But at least I'm the nominal eldest young lady of this mansion. So, the affairs of the Marquis Mansion are none of your business, and you have no right to lecture me!"
Hearing these words, Xiao Heng's eyes darkened abruptly.
They had known each other since childhood, but in the past dozen years, had Qiao Nian ever spoken to him like this?
He had no right to lecture her?
Was it because she was about to marry someone else now?
He stared at her intently, a hint of gloom swirling in his eyes.
Qiao Nian felt that the powerful aura emanating from Xiao Heng at this moment was pressing down on her, making her a bit flustered.
She thought that, after all, he had come back from the battlefield. Xiao Heng's aura was even more cold and fierce than a few years ago...
But she also knew that, in full view of everyone, Xiao Heng wouldn't dare to do anything to her.
So, suppressing the slight fear and unease in her heart, she raised her chin and said word by word, "I see that Miss Lin is in good health now. You should go and continue to receive the remaining family punishment. Whether Grandmother wants to see you or not depends on whether you've finished your punishment!"
This meant that she was asking Lin Yuan to go back to the ancestral hall and continue kneeling!
Hearing this, Lin Yuan panicked. She quickly tugged at the corner of Xiao Heng's robe. "Brother Heng, my knees still hurt..."
But before Xiao Heng could speak, Qiao Nian added, "Your elder brother is still kneeling in the ancestral hall. Aren't you always protecting your elder brother? What? Can you two only share the good times and not the bad?"
"Absolutely not!" Lin Yuan couldn't stand Qiao Nian's description of her relationship with Lin Ye.
He was her elder brother, the one who doted on her the most. She should always protect him and stand by his side.
Even though she knew that Qiao Nian was using reverse psychology, she couldn't remain silent any longer.
Even if it was her elder brother's idea for her to pretend to faint today, if he heard these words, he might have doubts about her.
So, she took a deep breath. "Elder Sister doesn't need to try to drive a wedge between us. I'll go and kneel in the ancestral hall. I really know I was wrong. Even if Grandmother doesn't want to see me, I still need to apologize to her!"
With that, she knelt down in the direction of the Old Lady's courtyard. Tears accompanied her soft voice. "Grandmother, Yuan'er knows she was wrong. Yuan'er will never dare to make Grandmother angry again. Please forgive Yuan'er!"
After saying these words, she kowtowed three times towards the Old Lady's courtyard.
She looked extremely aggrieved, with tears streaming down her face.
Qiao Nian thought that Lin Yuan probably considered herself extremely filial, loyal, and touching.
But Qiao Nian just found it ridiculous.
They didn't even know if the Old Lady was awake. Even if she was, with Lin Yuan's weak voice, the Old Lady probably couldn't hear her.
So, who was this show for? Her or Xiao Heng?
After kowtowing, Lin Yuan stood up with the help of Xiaocui. She sniffed and glanced at Qiao Nian, as if she wanted to say something.
But Qiao Nian's look was full of contempt and disdain, so the words she wanted to say were swallowed back.
Then, she turned to look at Xiao Heng.
Her eyes were misty with tears, looking extremely pitiful. "Brother Heng, I'm sorry. I've troubled you to make this trip for nothing today..."
She was actually apologizing to Xiao Heng!
Qiao Nian, standing aside, was quite surprised.
She felt that she could never learn Lin Yuan's ways.
Of course, she didn't want to learn either.
After all... it was quite disgusting.
Hearing her words, Xiao Heng's tone softened. "How could it be? I came here today specifically to see you."
Just this one sentence made Lin Yuan's heart flutter with joy.
Although there were still tears on her cheeks, her face visibly blushed.
She secretly glanced at Qiao Nian, looking as if she wanted to show off but didn't dare.
Qiao Nian naturally didn't care about her petty thoughts. She just frowned impatiently. "Does Miss Lin know the way to the ancestral hall? Do I need to send someone to take you there?"
Hearing this, Lin Yuan pouted pitifully. Then she curtsied to Xiao Heng and turned to walk towards the ancestral hall.
The way she kept looking back every few steps made it hard to tell whether she was waiting for Xiao Heng to stop her or for Qiao Nian to take back her words.
Qiao Nian didn't bother to look at her or Xiao Heng anymore. She said immediately, "Then I won't disturb General Xiao."
With that, she turned and walked towards the Old Lady's courtyard.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Heng followed her.
Qiao Nian was immediately displeased. "What are you doing?"
Xiao Heng raised his eyebrows slightly, his tone deep. "Naturally, I'm here to visit the Old Lady. What, Miss Qiao, are you going to punish me to kneel in the ancestral hall too?"
Was he mocking her for Lin Yuan's sake?
Qiao Nian snorted coldly and didn't want to pay him any more attention. She just walked forward.
But before she took a few steps, her vision went black again. The previous dizzy feeling came back, making her whole body sway.
Seeing this, Xiao Heng rushed forward in one step and caught her in his arms...