LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 45: Blaming Herself
Chapter 45: Blaming Herself
Those words seemed to hit a sore spot for Madam Lin. Her eyes suddenly widened, tears streaming down uncontrollably.
She pointed at Lin Ye, her voice trembling, “I, I never thought of killing Nian Nian. I raised her with my own hands!”
By the end, she was sobbing uncontrollably.
Seeing Madam Lin like this, Lin Ye panicked and hurriedly apologized, “I misspoke, Mother. Don’t be angry! It’s my fault!”
But faced with Lin Ye’s apology, Madam Lin just turned her back, as if unwilling to hear him speak.
Seeing this, Lin Ye’s brows furrowed tightly.
He glanced at Lin Yuan’s face and then coldly spoke, “Actually, it’s all Nian Nian’s fault. How could she be so vicious, to hit Yuan’er so hard!”
Such a pretty face, beaten to this state!
Unexpectedly, a voice came from the side room.
“If the Second Young Miss hadn’t spoken so carelessly, the Old Madam wouldn’t have fallen ill again. The Eldest Young Miss was merely disciplining the Second Young Miss on behalf of the Old Madam. I believe when the Old Madam wakes up, she will praise the Eldest Young Miss.”
It was Nanny Su speaking.
As she spoke, she walked up to the four of them and bowed to Marquis Lin.
Nanny Su was an old servant of the Marquis’s household.
She had come with the Old Madam when she married into the Marquis’s family and had watched Marquis Lin grow up.
Although nominally just a servant, to Marquis Lin, Nanny Su was more like an elder.
Thus, he immediately bowed back in return.
Nanny Su continued, “Thanks to the Second Young Miss, this old servant and the Old Madam are now aware of all the recent events in the Marquis’s household.”
Hearing this, Marquis Lin couldn’t help but look back at Lin Yuan.
Even though Lin Yuan still looked pitiful, Marquis Lin felt a rising anger in his heart.
They all knew why the Old Madam had fallen ill today.
Before he could speak, Nanny Su continued, “First, the Young Lord hired thugs to harm someone, then the Second Young Miss recklessly accused without regard for the Old Madam’s well-being, followed by the Madam wielding a stone to hurt someone…”
As Nanny Su spoke, her sharp gaze swept over each of them.
Even Lin Ye didn’t dare to act up in front of Nanny Su and obediently lowered his eyes, keeping his mouth shut.
Nanny Su went on, “Marquis, please forgive this old servant for being presumptuous due to my long stay in the household. But judging by the events of yesterday and today, if the Marquis doesn’t enforce strict discipline, I’m afraid great calamity will befall the Marquis’s household.”
She said “great calamity” rather than “big trouble.”
The severity of her words made the Marquis’s heart skip a beat.
He hurriedly responded, “Nanny Su is right.”
The Marquis’s household’s position at court was already precarious, with the Emperor having considered revoking their hereditary title several times.
He had been so focused on protecting this honor that he had indeed neglected discipline within the household.
Lin Ye causing trouble was one thing, but today even Yuan’er and his wife…
Marquis Lin truly felt at his wit’s end.
Fortunately, Nanny Su knew when to stop. After saying these words, she turned and left, otherwise Marquis Lin would have been truly ashamed.
After Nanny Su left, Marquis Lin turned to Lin Yuan, “Yuan’er, you nearly angered your grandmother to death today. Do you know what punishment you deserve?”
Since returning to the household three years ago, Lin Yuan had never received such stern reprimand from Marquis Lin. She immediately fell to her knees, “Yuan’er knows she was wrong. Yuan’er only thought that sister respects Grandmother the most. If Grandmother pleaded on brother’s behalf, she surely wouldn’t trouble brother anymore. Wuwuwu… Yuan’er didn’t know Grandmother would fall ill. If I had known, I wouldn’t have said anything even if it killed me, wuwuwu…”
Actually, Marquis Lin had guessed that Lin Yuan went to the Old Madam for Lin Ye’s sake. The siblings were close, and yesterday Qiao Nian had repeatedly threatened to drag Lin Ye down with her. It was understandable that Lin Yuan would be so worried.
Beside them, Madam Lin also hurriedly tried to persuade, “My Lord, Yuan’er only meant well but did wrong. Look how Nian Nian has already beaten her. How can you still have the heart to punish her?”
Marquis Lin’s gaze fell on Lin Yuan’s swollen face, suddenly reminded of how thin she had been when she returned three years ago.
She was practically skin and bones.
She was their daughter who had been lost for fifteen years, and she had suffered for all those fifteen years!
Indeed, how could he bear to be harsh?
Taking a deep breath, Marquis Lin finally turned his gaze to Lin Ye.
Without a word, he kicked out at him, “All this trouble is caused by you, you rascal!”
But this time, Lin Ye seemed prepared and dodged it well.
Having missed his kick, Marquis Lin wanted to try again, but Lin Ye quickly hid behind Madam Lin, “Mother! Father kicked me yesterday, and my chest still hurts! If he kicks me again, I might die!”
With Madam Lin in the way, Marquis Lin had to withdraw his foot.
Seeing Madam Lin’s hesitant look, he knew she wanted to plead for Lin Ye.
He put on a miserable face, “Madam! Look at how you’ve spoiled this unfilial son! If you keep protecting him, it will be just as Nanny Su said – great calamity will befall our household!”
Madam Lin was speechless, but Lin Ye remained stubborn, “What did I do wrong? I just wanted to ruin Nian Nian’s marriage to Prince Ming! Who told her to be so arrogant after being betrothed? If she hadn’t made Mother and Yuan’er cry first, how could I possibly target her like this?”
Hearing this, Madam Lin chimed in, “It’s true that Nian Nian has become a bit overbearing since her betrothal. Ye’er was wrong, but he was also feeling sorry for me and Yuan’er. It… it was somewhat justified. My Lord, Ye’er is still injured…”
“You!” Looking at Madam Lin so protective of their son, Marquis Lin was so angry he couldn’t speak. He could only point furiously at Lin Ye before storming off.
He strode out, wanting to find a place to clear his head, but unconsciously found himself outside Fallen Plum Courtyard.
Through the man-high courtyard wall, he could clearly see several plum trees in full bloom.
In his mind, he couldn’t help but recall the image of Nian Nian riding on his shoulders to view the flowers years ago. Back then, Nian Nian was so obedient.
She loved riding on his shoulders the most, but worried about tiring him out, always asking to come down after a short while.
Then she would coax him to sit down, and those chubby little hands would massage his broad shoulders.
Though her touch was light, he found it extremely comfortable then.
Marquis Lin was momentarily lost in thought.
He suddenly realized that he and Nian Nian had shared such warm moments.
But then he thought, they had lived under the same roof for fifteen years!
She was the daughter he had raised for fifteen years!
How could there be few such warm moments?
It’s just that she had changed since her return this time. She was cold, distant, mocking towards everyone, as if they all owed her something!
It was just three years in the laundry bureau, could it really erase fifteen years of family affection?
No wonder Ye’er felt hurt and angry!
Today, seeing that girl straddling Yuan’er, even he felt a bit scared. And his usually gentle and dignified wife was so frightened she resorted to violence!
This girl, she’s really something!
As Marquis Lin thought about this, his brows furrowed tightly. He turned and went back to his study, picked up brush and paper to write a letter, and ordered it to be sent to Prince Ming.
He thought it was time to let Qiao Nian understand exactly what her status was!