NOVEL NEXT Chapter 19: A Lifelong Commitment
Chapter 19: A Lifelong Commitment
At this time, she’s coming to see her?
It’s probably not as simple as just a visit, is it?
Qiao Nian stood up to greet her, and upon seeing Madam Lin, she bowed slightly and said, “Greetings, Madam.”
Seeing that Qiao Nian still had no intention of calling her “Mother,” Madam Lin felt somewhat hurt.
However, she didn’t want to show it in front of Qiao Nian. Instead, she affectionately took Qiao Nian’s hand and led her to sit down nearby. “Your mother was worried you might be too sad, so I came to check on you.”
Qiao Nian lowered her eyes and said nothing. She just quietly withdrew her hand.
Madam Lin noticed this and frowned slightly. She sighed softly and said, “Actually, your grandmother loves you the most. Even though she knows you’re not born to the Lin family, in her heart, you’re still her most beloved and pampered granddaughter.”
Qiao Nian acknowledged this.
She could discern who truly cared for her and who was sincere.
Even though Grandmother’s health was so poor, she still thought to use this situation to ask the Empress to release her from the palace. Just for this alone, Qiao Nian felt she could never repay this kindness in her lifetime.
Her lowered eyes trembled slightly, but she tried hard not to let Madam Lin see the tears in them.
But Madam Lin had been Qiao Nian’s mother for fifteen years. How could she not see how heartbroken Qiao Nian was at this moment?
She sighed softly and then spoke, “Just now, in front of your father, I didn’t dare say much. But I’m not afraid to tell you honestly, your grandmother… she might not last more than a few months.”
Hearing this, Qiao Nian suddenly raised her head, and the tears she had been holding back fell in an instant.
She had only been back for a few days and hadn’t had the chance to properly accompany her grandmother. How could Grandmother possibly…
Madam Lin felt very distressed. She took out a handkerchief to wipe away Qiao Nian’s tears. “Mother knows you love your grandmother the most. But at this point, there’s nothing we can do. The only thing we can do is to let your grandmother feel at ease, right?”
Hearing the implication in Madam Lin’s words, Qiao Nian sniffled and replied, “If Madam has something to say, please speak plainly.”
This simple sentence immediately distanced their relationship.
Madam Lin’s hand, which was still trying to wipe Qiao Nian’s tears, hesitated and finally withdrew reluctantly.
Then, with a long sigh, she said, “Speaking of this at such a time, you might think that I, as a mother, am heartless. But what I’m about to say is also what your grandmother wants to say the most.”
Having said this, Madam Lin looked at Qiao Nian and spoke earnestly, “Nian Nian, you’re not young anymore. It’s time for you to find someone to commit your life to.”
To be honest, Qiao Nian had vaguely guessed that Madam Lin wanted to talk about this. But when she actually said it, Qiao Nian still found it somewhat ridiculous.
Her grandmother was gravely ill and still unconscious today, yet Madam Lin came to talk about her marriage.
Although she knew that her marriage was indeed one of her grandmother’s biggest concerns, at this moment, Madam Lin’s special visit to her courtyard to discuss this made it clear that it wasn’t for her grandmother’s sake, nor for hers.
It was for Lin Yuan.
It was because of what Xiao Heng had said that day, that she should marry first.
With tears still on her face, Qiao Nian sniffled and then spoke, “If Madam speaks like this, I assume you already have someone in mind?”
Of course, there was someone in mind.
In fact, after Xiao Heng had said those words that day, Madam Lin had started to scheme.
However, she couldn’t say it outright now, so she only said, “Don’t worry, Mother will definitely not wronged you in this matter. I will make sure you’re satisfied, and your grandmother is satisfied too.”
Yes, using the excuse of putting grandmother at ease, the candidate would naturally have to be someone grandmother approves of.
Qiao Nian took a deep breath, “If that’s the case, then I’ll trouble Madam with this matter.”
Her voice was flat, showing no emotion.
But the meaning of these words was that she agreed, or at least, she had relented.
The gloom on Madam Lin’s face cleared instantly, even showing some satisfaction, “I knew you were the most sensible one. Don’t worry, Mother will definitely not let you suffer any grievances.”
Madam Lin repeated this again.
But saying it once shows confidence, saying it twice becomes emphasis.
Things that need to be emphasized often mean that the speaker themselves lacks confidence.
Fortunately, Qiao Nian didn’t put much faith in Madam Lin’s promises and didn’t take this matter to heart.
She only thought that if it could put her grandmother at ease, that would be enough.
At noon, news came that Grandmother had woken up, and Qiao Nian immediately went to see her.
However, when she arrived, Grandmother had fallen asleep again.
Granny Su brought her a cup of hot tea and said softly, “The Old Madam has taken a sleeping medicine. The doctor said that in the Old Madam’s current condition, more sleep would be better.”
Hearing this, Qiao Nian felt somewhat relieved, but thinking of Madam Lin’s words, she still felt bitter in her heart.
Looking at the Old Madam’s sleeping face, Qiao Nian couldn’t help but think of what Marquis Lin and Lin Ye had said at last night’s reunion dinner.
She was able to return to the Marquis’s mansion now all because of the Old Madam, but she also understood that regardless of the Old Madam’s condition, she would have to leave the Marquis’s mansion sooner or later.
Even if Marquis Lin and the others didn’t drive her out, since Xiao Heng had said those words, she had become a stumbling block in the marriage between the Lin family and the Xiao family.
It was understandable that Madam Lin was eager to marry her off.
Last night, she had thought for a long time but couldn’t figure out what she could do to put the Old Madam at ease after leaving the Marquis’s mansion, given that she had no family or support. But Madam Lin’s words today had opened up her thoughts.
Perhaps marriage was the only way.
She certainly wouldn’t expect any “till death do us part” or that there would be someone in this world who would love her.
Things like love were too intangible.
She couldn’t even hold onto familial love, let alone romantic love.
However, if she married someone the Old Madam approved of, it would put the Old Madam at ease, at least ensuring that the Old Madam wouldn’t worry or be sad about her while she was still alive.
It was her own inadequacy that she couldn’t do anything for the Old Madam, so this might be the only thing she could do.
After the Old Madam passed away, if she could live in mutual respect with her husband, they would continue their lives together. If not, they could separate. By then, she wouldn’t have any connection with the others in the Marquis’s mansion anyway.
Thinking of it this way, this seemed to be her only way out now.
Qiao Nian took a deep breath. Even though she was holding a cup of hot tea, all ten of her fingers were still cold.
So she didn’t dare to touch the Old Madam, she could only look at her face and say softly, “Grandmother must get well soon.”
Get well soon, so she could happily watch her get married.
It must be said that Madam Lin moved very quickly.
On the first day of the month, she had just gotten Qiao Nian’s consent, and on the second day, she took Qiao Nian to the palace to meet her future husband.
Qiao Nian was very reluctant to enter the palace, but Noble Consort De had sent an invitation. If she didn’t go, it would be considered highly disrespectful.
And she hadn’t expected that Madam Lin would go to such lengths.
Her chosen future husband turned out to be Noble Consort De’s son, the current Prince Ming.