Everyone knew that for the past three years, the old lady of the Lin family would seek any suitable opportunity to beg the Empress to release Qiao Nian.
Everyone knew that Qiao Nian now cared most about her grandmother.
Thus, everyone also knew that the old lady of the Lin family was Qiao Nian's Achilles' heel.
If Xiao Heng understood how to use the old lady to threaten Qiao Nian, so did Prince Ming.
Upon hearing Prince Ming's words, Qiao Nian, who had been struggling, suddenly went still.
Her mouth, which had been agape from the struggle to breathe, snapped shut, but her eyes remained locked on Prince Ming.
Prince Ming hadn't expected a single sentence to make Qiao Nian stop resisting.
After a moment of surprise, an unprecedented thrill surged through him.
He suddenly released Qiao Nian, shouting impatiently towards the outside of the carriage, "Are we there yet!"
"We're almost there, my lord!"
The response from outside temporarily quelled Prince Ming's anger.
He sat back, tilting his head, his sharp gaze scanning Qiao Nian from top to bottom, as if contemplating where to start once they arrived.
Meanwhile, Qiao Nian was merely clutching her neck, taking deep breaths.
Facing what was to come, there was no trace of fear on her face.
This lack of fear only heightened Prince Ming's interest in her.
The carriage indeed soon came to a stop.
Before it had fully settled, Prince Ming hastily got up, dragging Qiao Nian out of the carriage.
Qiao Nian then realized they were at a secluded villa.
This villa appeared no different from others, but its location in this desolate wilderness suggested its use would be anything but ordinary.
Several phrases immediately sprang to Qiao Nian's mind.
"Cry out, and neither heaven nor earth will respond!"
In such a place, even the most piercing screams would likely go unheard.
"Inside!" Prince Ming dragged Qiao Nian towards the villa with an urgency like a starved wraith.
The coachman hurried ahead, opening the door to a room before Prince Ming.
Then, Prince Ming pushed Qiao Nian inside.
The room was dark.
All the windows were boarded up, allowing no light to enter.
By the light from the doorway, the coachman skillfully found the flint and lit several candles.
It was then that Qiao Nian could see the room clearly.
Apart from a single chair, there was no other furniture.
The candlesticks were fixed to the walls.
In the dim candlelight, she could clearly see many dark red smears on the walls.
They looked like they were left by someone's fingers.
Even the air carried a faint scent of blood.
Qiao Nian was all too familiar with that smell.
"Bang!"
The coachman left, shutting the door with force.
Before leaving, he handed the carriage whip to Prince Ming.
With no light from outside, only the small candles provided illumination, making the room incredibly dark.
Prince Ming knew his way around, walking to the chair and sitting down, spreading his arms, looking at Qiao Nian, "What does Nian think of this place?"
Qiao Nian surveyed her surroundings before asking, "Is this the West City?"
Prince Ming's lips curled slightly, "Someone must have warned Nian about something."
"Just advised me not to come to the West City, yet I was still deceived into coming." Qiao Nian's tone bore a touch of self-mockery.
She was mocking her own foolishness.
Seeing her like this, Prince Ming's eyes revealed a hint of desire, "Isn't Nian afraid?"
"Will the Prince kill me?" Qiao Nian countered.
Prince Ming stared at her intently, then shook his head.
That was the answer Qiao Nian expected.
Since Prince Ming needed to marry her, he wouldn't take her life.
Because he couldn't kill her, he used her grandmother to ensure her silence!
Qiao Nian took a deep breath before speaking, "Since the Prince won't take my life, then I have nothing to fear."
She saw no instruments of torture in the room; the only tool of punishment was the whip in Prince Ming's hand.
During her three years in the laundry bureau, she had endured countless whippings.
If she could survive those years, she believed she could survive today.
Seeing her unafraid demeanor, Prince Ming's excitement was almost palpable in his eyes.
He slowly stood up, walking towards Qiao Nian, "As I said before, I like you like this."
He reached out, brushing her hair behind her ear, just as he had done in the palace.
But this time, he suddenly grabbed the earring on Qiao Nian's ear and pulled hard.
"Ah!"
Qiao Nian cried out in pain, instinctively covering her ear, feeling warmth and wetness in her palm.
Watching the blood dripping from the earring in his hand, Prince Ming's chest heaved with excitement, his smile growing uncontrollable. He looked at Qiao Nian, finally raising the whip high...
Meanwhile, at the Marquis's residence.
Xiao Heng had brought many fine gifts to visit the old lady today. She was reclined on a couch, looking at the precious medicines, chuckling, "You young man, I haven't even finished what you brought last time! Why bring more?"
Xiao Heng's smile was warm, "Naturally, it's to honor you, madam. I used to sneak snacks from you when I was young."
That was an anecdote from when Xiao Heng was a child, and not one he actually stole.
But now, his words undoubtedly brought joy to the old lady.
However, she knew Xiao Heng wasn't here for her today, so after a brief chat, she claimed fatigue, suggesting he go find the younger ones.
Xiao Heng agreed and left her courtyard, heading towards Lin Ye's place.
But halfway there, he ran into Lin Ye and Lin Yuan.
Seeing Xiao Heng, Lin Yuan shyly called out, "Brother Heng."
Xiao Heng nodded in acknowledgment, hearing Lin Ye say, "This girl insisted on dragging me over to find you when she heard you were here."
Both Lin Ye and Xiao Heng froze at these words.
Because he had often said something similar before, but back then, the 'girl' he referred to was Qiao Nian.
A wave of irritation crossed Lin Ye's heart; why was he thinking of her now?
He gave a cold snort, "She probably won't come back after clinging to the Consort's legs!"
It was getting late!
Lin Yuan looked at Lin Ye with confusion, "Is brother talking about sister?"
Lin Ye was annoyed at himself for bringing up Qiao Nian without reason and chose not to respond.
Unexpectedly, Lin Yuan continued, "I just heard from the coachman who returned that sister went boating with Prince Ming."
Xiao Heng's brows furrowed, "Just the two of them?"
Lin Yuan felt a shiver in her heart, thinking Xiao Heng cared too much about Qiao Nian, so she remained silent.
Then Lin Ye waved his hand dismissively, "Just boating, not heading to the West City. It must be Consort De's suggestion to foster their relationship!"
Hearing this, Xiao Heng didn't reply, only feeling a vague sense of foreboding creeping up.
But Lin Ye slapped his shoulder, "Don't bother about that girl, it's annoying. We haven't had a good brotherly chat in a while, let's go drink!"
Lin Yuan watched their departing figures, her words on the tip of her tongue, yet she hesitated and ultimately said nothing.
The coachman had said, they were heading towards the West City...