NOVEL NEXT Chapter 18: Not Fond of Fireworks
Chapter 18: Not Fond of Fireworks
This sudden proposal made Xiao Heng’s heart stir slightly.
But before he could say anything, Lin Ye’s fist was already coming at him.
Fortunately, Xiao Heng reacted quickly, dodging the punch by moving to the side.
Lin Ye missed, tumbling onto the table, sending the exquisite dishes crashing to the floor.
He then grabbed a handful of food and threw it at Xiao Heng.
Xiao Heng quickly stepped back, barely avoiding it. His brows furrowed with displeasure, “What madness has gotten into you?”
He deliberately didn’t use the word “drunken madness” because in the past, Lin Ye would never act like this even when drunk.
Today, Lin Ye clearly had something weighing on his mind.
Lin Ye stood up, his elegant clothes now stained with dirt.
He didn’t seem to notice, only pointing at Xiao Heng, “I’m warning you, if you dare to wrong Yuan’er, don’t blame me for turning against you!”
Xiao Heng’s eyes were cold. He brushed off his clothes and sneered, “Brother Lin seems to have said similar words before.”
Except back then, the name on his lips wasn’t Yuan’er, but Nian Nian.
Lin Ye’s heart caught, but he quickly recovered, “But now you’re engaged to Yuan’er. Xiao Heng, one shouldn’t be too greedy.”
“Brother Lin is the one saying all this. I haven’t said anything,” Xiao Heng said calmly, sitting down to the side.
Lin Ye sneered, “We’ve been brothers for so many years. Even if you don’t say it, I know what you’re thinking. The pastries Nian Nian didn’t take that day, you specially delivered to her today. Hah, but do you know what? After she returned to the mansion, she had those pastries sent to Yuan’er’s courtyard. Xiao Heng, Nian Nian no longer has feelings for you, don’t lose your mind pursuing her!”
Pursuing her?
Xiao Heng thought, the one who had always pursued him in the past was her.
How is it that now she can just decide to stop pursuing?
He didn’t speak, only lifting a cup of wine and taking a small sip.
Lin Ye sat down beside Xiao Heng, taking two big gulps from the wine jug. The images of the scars and rashes on Qiao Nian’s arm kept lingering in his mind.
Laughter and merriment occasionally drifted from the neighboring private rooms, but this largest room remained eerily quiet.
After some time, a sudden explosion sounded outside, followed by an uproar throughout the entire Zui Xiang Lou.
Everyone was cheering, gazing at the sky as one brilliant firework followed another.
Xiao Heng and Lin Ye both looked up towards the outside. In their haze, they seemed to see a delicate figure leaning by the window, waving at them continuously. That bright smile and vibrant personality rivaled the dazzling fireworks…
The fireworks feast at Zui Xiang Lou seemed particularly grand this year.
The successive explosions disturbed half the capital.
Qiao Nian sat on the edge of her bed, soaking her feet, holding a hand warmer that Ning Shuang had insisted she take.
Outside, the maids’ exclamations and the sound of fireworks alternated.
But her eyes remained fixed on her toes.
Ning Shuang entered with a bowl of ginger soup, her face showing some festive cheer, “Miss, the fireworks outside are so beautiful. Drink this ginger soup, and let’s go watch together!”
Qiao Nian took the ginger soup and drank it all at once, but shook her head, “No, I don’t like watching fireworks.”
Don’t like them?
Ning Shuang was stunned.
But she clearly remembered that in previous years, the young miss was happiest when watching fireworks with the young lord.
Thinking of the young miss’s experiences in the mansion these past few days, Ning Shuang finally couldn’t help but ask, “Is it because the young lord hurt your feelings? You shouldn’t be like this, the young lord actually…”
“It has nothing to do with the young lord,” Qiao Nian interrupted Ning Shuang promptly, looking up at her with a smile, “I simply don’t like them, that’s all.”
Of course, she had once loved them very much.
Who wouldn’t like such beautiful things?
But on the first New Year’s Eve after entering the laundry bureau, when she was locked outside by those palace maids, soaking wet, those fireworks exploding in the sky weren’t beautiful at all.
They only clearly illuminated all her misery and shame.
Fifteen years of misery and shame.
Since then, Qiao Nian no longer liked fireworks.
Ning Shuang didn’t speak again, only standing quietly beside Qiao Nian.
Outside the window, the fireworks were still brilliant, and the maids’ cheers were still loud.
But the New Year still passed in loneliness.
The next day, the first day of the lunar new year.
Qiao Nian got up early to give New Year greetings to the Old Madam, but just as she reached the entrance of the Old Madam’s courtyard, she saw several maids running out hurriedly.
They all looked very anxious.
Qiao Nian’s heart jolted, a sense of foreboding washing over her, making her feet feel weak.
Hurrying to the door of the Old Madam’s room, she saw Nanny Su standing outside.
Seeing Qiao Nian, Nanny Su quickly bowed, and before Qiao Nian could speak, she said, “The Old Madam has fallen ill. I’m afraid she won’t be able to see the young miss today.”
In an instant, Qiao Nian felt tears welling up in her eyes. With trembling lips, she asked, “How is her condition?”
“We’ve already sent someone to call for the family doctor,” Nanny Su answered truthfully.
As for how serious the condition was, they’d have to wait for the doctor to arrive.
Soon after, the family doctor hurried over, followed by Marquis Lin, Madam Lin, and even the still-ill Lin Yuan.
Half an hour later, the family doctor finally emerged from the Old Madam’s room.
“How is she?” Marquis Lin was the first to approach, his expression anxious.
The doctor bowed to Marquis Lin before speaking, “My Lord, I discussed the Old Madam’s condition with you a while ago.”
Though he didn’t elaborate, Marquis Lin’s face instantly paled.
Madam Lin sent someone to see the doctor off. Only then did Qiao Nian couldn’t help but ask, “Is grandmother’s condition very bad?”
Hearing this, Marquis Lin sat down dejectedly without a word. Madam Lin also sighed before saying, “The doctor said your grandmother is getting on in years. Her health will deteriorate day by day, I’m afraid…”
Madam Lin didn’t finish her sentence.
But even without her saying it, Qiao Nian could guess what it meant.
Beside them, Marquis Lin spoke in a suppressed voice, “It was because of your grandmother’s condition that the Empress agreed to let you return.”
Though his voice was low, one could hear the choked sob in it.
This caused Qiao Nian’s eyes to instantly redden.
Lin Yuan was the first to start crying, “Father, Mother, why don’t we ask for the imperial doctors to come and take a look?”
Hearing this, neither Marquis Lin nor Madam Lin spoke.
But Qiao Nian knew clearly that the family doctor of the Marquis’s household had come from Medicine Valley. Years ago, he had been saved by the Marquis by chance and thus became the family doctor of the household.
His medical skills were no less than, if not superior to, those of the imperial doctors.
The Old Madam was still unconscious, so naturally, the New Year greetings couldn’t be given.
Qiao Nian had wanted to keep watch outside the Old Madam’s door, but Marquis Lin insisted on staying with the Old Madam, so Qiao Nian had no choice but to take her leave.
However, not long after returning to her own Fanghe Court, she heard Ning Shuang report, “Miss, the Madam has come to see you.”