NOVEL NEXT Chapter 33: Why Don't We Switch Then
Chapter 33: Why Don’t We Switch Then
After returning to the Marquis’s mansion, Qiao Nian wanted to pay her respects to her grandmother but was told that the Old Madam had already gone to bed.
She thought that if her grandmother could sleep, it meant she hadn’t heard about what happened at Fahua Temple today, which eased her mind considerably.
When she returned to Fanghe Courtyard, Ning Shuang was waiting for her with a pale face. Qiao Nian’s heart twinged as she remembered Lin Ye’s kick earlier.
However, Ning Shuang acted as if nothing had happened and continued to come forward to help Qiao Nian change her clothes.
After some thought, Qiao Nian finally spoke, “Ning Shuang, is there anywhere else you’d like to go?”
Hearing this, Ning Shuang was stunned, her already pale face turning even whiter. “Is Miss trying to send me away?”
Qiao Nian shook her head, “I’m not trying to send you away, I just… fear I might bring you harm.”
If it weren’t for her, how would Ning Shuang have suffered such an undeserved disaster today?
But unexpectedly, Ning Shuang became suddenly emotional, “I’m not afraid! Miss, please don’t send me away. I want to stay by your side to protect you!”
Perhaps due to her intense emotions, she began coughing as soon as she finished speaking. After a few coughs, she vomited blood.
Qiao Nian was startled and quickly went to support her as she sat down. “What’s wrong? Didn’t you see the mansion’s doctor?”
Ning Shuang finally stopped coughing and replied, “I did. The doctor said I have internal injuries and shouldn’t get too emotional.”
But if Qiao Nian were to send her away, she would become emotional, coughing uncontrollably and vomiting blood like just now.
Qiao Nian understood Ning Shuang’s meaning. Although she didn’t understand why Ning Shuang was so insistent on staying by her side, remembering how she had protected her without regard for herself earlier, her heart inevitably softened a bit.
A smile tugged at her lips, “Alright, I understand. Then I’ll try my best not to anger you.”
“Miss hasn’t angered me at all!” Ning Shuang, thinking Qiao Nian had misunderstood, hurried to explain, but seeing the smile on Qiao Nian’s lips, she finally understood her meaning.
With reddened eyes, she grasped Qiao Nian’s hand, “From now on, this servant will surely protect Miss well, and never let Miss suffer such grievances as today again.”
The little girl’s tears were always moving.
Qiao Nian felt like crying too, and sniffled before saying with a smile, “Silly girl, in the future, before protecting me, you must protect yourself first. Otherwise, I really won’t keep you anymore.”
“Alright!” Ning Shuang nodded vigorously, but thought to herself, what was there to protect about someone of her lowly status?
In the future, she still needed to protect Miss well!
The next day, as expected, the imperial edict for the marriage arrived from the palace, followed by a stream of rewards entering the Marquis’s mansion.
There were rewards from the Emperor and also from the Noble Consort.
Looking at the countless gold, silver, and jewels, Lin Yuan stood nearby with an envious expression, “The Emperor and Noble Consort must really like sister. Sister is so fortunate!”
Her life is so fortunate?
Qiao Nian turned to look at Lin Yuan, seeing her looking at her with a face full of joy. Apart from envy, there were no other messy emotions in her eyes, confirming that Lin Yuan wasn’t mocking her.
But…
She looked at Lin Yuan, a faint smile tugging at her lips, “If little sister is so envious, why don’t we switch then?”
Hearing this, Lin Yuan was suddenly stunned.
Switch?
Let her marry Prince Ming?
But brother had clearly said that Prince Ming was like a fire pit, marrying Prince Ming was like jumping into a fire pit. She didn’t want to marry Prince Ming at all!
She liked Xiao Heng, she was going to marry Xiao Heng!
Thinking this, Lin Yuan quickly shook her head, her eyes showing a hint of fear, truly as if she was afraid Qiao Nian would snatch something away from her.
This reaction, compared to what she had said earlier, was truly laughable.
Qiao Nian couldn’t help but shake her head slightly, letting out a low laugh.
Madam Lin clearly also knew that Lin Yuan’s earlier words were inappropriate, and hurriedly came forward to change the subject, “Prince Ming is still recovering from his injuries these days. He sent a message saying he’ll take you to the place you agreed on after some time.”
The place they agreed on?
Qiao Nian frowned slightly, only now remembering that Prince Ming had mentioned taking her somewhere after everything was over yesterday.
But could this be considered an agreement? He had left without even waiting for her answer.
As she was thinking, Lin Yuan approached again, “Where did Prince Ming and sister agree to go? Is it fun?”
“…”
Looking at her joyful face, Qiao Nian suddenly thought of something.
She turned to Lin Yuan and asked solemnly, “Yesterday, was it you who told Prince Ming that I would be going to Fahua Temple?”
She remembered Lin Yuan seemed to have mentioned it.
Hearing this, Lin Yuan was stunned, then nodded.
Qiao Nian’s brows furrowed, “Why did you do that?”
If she hadn’t come to invite her, she wouldn’t have remembered the Holy Festival and naturally wouldn’t have gone to Fahua Temple.
If Prince Ming hadn’t stood up for her outside the temple and pulled her inside, Xiao Qingnu wouldn’t have said such hurtful things in front of her.
So…
The suffering she endured yesterday, upon careful consideration, was all instigated by Lin Yuan.
Lin Yuan had seen Qiao Nian angry before, and seeing her expression now, she knew Qiao Nian was angry.
She was immediately startled, as if afraid Qiao Nian would hit her, and even took two steps back, “I, I just heard about sister and Prince Ming’s matter, so, so I thought I’d give a little push, to bring you two together…”
“So I should thank you?” Qiao Nian laughed coldly, her lips curled in intense mockery, “The legitimate daughter of a Marquis’s family, yet so interested in others’ marriages. Should I praise you for being enthusiastic, or for not knowing what shame is?”
“Nian Nian!” Madam Lin called out in a low voice, quickly shielding the nearly crying Lin Yuan behind her, “Don’t speak so harshly. Your sister was only being kind-hearted, she, she had no other intentions. Don’t be angry. You are both my daughters, I can’t bear to see either of you wronged.”
Only then did Qiao Nian’s gaze move from Lin Yuan’s face.
She glanced at Madam Lin, her smile not reaching her eyes, “Madam Lin, do you laugh at yourself when you say such things?”
She can’t bear to see either of them wronged?
Then where was Madam Lin when she was wronged and bullied for these three years?
She was probably comforting Lin Yuan, doting on Lin Yuan!
How could she say such things with such a clear conscience?
This was the first time Qiao Nian had talked back to Madam Lin since returning from the laundry bureau.
In the past, she had always seen through but not spoken out.
But some people, after telling lies for so long, start to believe them as truth. In the end, they even make her out to be the bad person.
So she felt it necessary to clarify things.
Madam Lin had never imagined Qiao Nian would speak to her like this. Her breath caught, and tears immediately fell.
This scene happened to be witnessed by Lin Ye.
He had heard that the Emperor had granted the marriage and bestowed many rewards, so he wanted to come and mend relations with Qiao Nian while she was in a good mood today.
Thus, even though he needed servants to support him, he came limping.
Who knew he would see his mother and sister both bullied to tears.
He immediately became angry and shouted at Qiao Nian, “Qiao Nian, what are you doing? Are you relying on the Emperor’s marriage decree to openly bully mother now?”