LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 47: That Tiny Little Tooth
Chapter 47: That Tiny Little Tooth
Ning Shuang was clearly startled, not expecting what was inside.
But Qiao Nian bent down to pick up the tiny tooth, and with it came flooding back countless fragments of memories.
She remembered this tooth.
When she was about five, she had insisted on playing with Lin Ye and Xiao Heng, trying to copy them jumping down from a high rockery.
Fortunately, Lin Ye and Xiao Heng had caught her, preventing a fatal fall.
But she had lost a tooth.
Everyone was terrified, hurrying her away while leaving the tooth behind by the rockery.
As it happened, Xiao Qingnu, who was the same age as her, learned of this and specifically came to tell her that if a fallen tooth disappeared, evil spirits would come to take her.
She was terrified and refused to sleep that night, afraid spirits would come for her while she slept.
It was particularly unfortunate that there was thunder and lightning that night, making her even more frightened.
Even the Marquis Lin holding and comforting her did no good.
Until Madam Lin returned, soaked through from the rain, holding a tiny tooth.
She remembered Madam Lin saying, “Look, Nian Nian, Mother found your tooth for you.”
“Don’t worry, no evil spirits will come for Nian Nian. Even if they do, Mother will stand in front of you.”
She had said, “Don’t be afraid, Nian Nian. Mother won’t let anything happen to you.”
Mother won’t let anything happen to you…
Back then, Qiao Nian had been deeply touched, hugging Madam Lin and crying, saying thank you mother, mother is so good…
But now, Qiao Nian only felt the irony.
She understood perfectly well what Madam Lin meant by bringing out this tooth today.
Yet, while her feelings of gratitude then had been real, the wound on her head now truly hurt…
She wrapped the tiny tooth back in its bundle, forcing back tears that nearly spilled.
She said nothing.
Ning Shuang naturally didn’t dare to ask.
Mistress and maid sat silently in the room, until the pitter-patter of rain began outside.
Ning Shuang’s heart jumped, and she hurriedly went to the window, opening it just a crack.
Through the window, they saw it was indeed raining, with Madam Lin still standing in the courtyard, in the rain.
Ning Shuang grew anxious and went to Qiao Nian’s side, whispering, “Young Miss, it’s raining, and Madam is still here!”
Qiao Nian finally showed emotion, her brows furrowing slightly, “Go try to persuade her.”
Implying she still refused to see Madam Lin.
Ning Shuang sighed deeply but agreed.
She ran to Madam Lin with an umbrella, trying to hand it to her, “Madam, Young Miss hasn’t woken yet! There’s no point in waiting like this! Why not return home, and I’ll notify you when Young Miss wakes?”
But Madam Lin shook her head, refusing Ning Shuang’s umbrella, “I know she doesn’t want to see me. Tell her that Mother truly knows she was wrong. Please beg her to give me a chance to apologize.”
“Madam…”
“Go!”
Madam Lin was so determined that Ning Shuang suddenly realized Young Miss and Madam Lin were somewhat alike – both equally stubborn!
Unsure whether to leave, she could only stand beside Madam Lin, holding the umbrella for her.
Just then, two figures rushed in from outside.
“Mother!”
“Mother!”
It was Lin Ye and Lin Yuan.
They both came with servants and umbrellas, but the rain was heavy, and they were somewhat wet.
Seeing Madam Lin almost soaked through, Lin Ye was alarmed and tried to pull her away, “Mother, why are you tormenting yourself like this? Can’t this wait until tomorrow?”
“Let go!” Madam Lin shook off Lin Ye’s hand, taking a deep breath, “This doesn’t concern you. Please leave!”
Lin Yuan began crying, hugging Madam Lin, “Mother, please don’t be like this. It’s all my fault, I’m to blame. Please go back with brother! I’ll stand here for you, I’ll apologize to sister for you!”
Seeing this, Lin Yuan’s maid Xiao Cui hurriedly came to hold an umbrella for her mistress, shoving Ning Shuang aside in the process.
The sudden force made Ning Shuang stumble and fall to the ground.
Her umbrella broke.
Perhaps because of the heavy rain, Madam Lin and the others didn’t seem to notice.
When Lin Ye couldn’t persuade his mother, he angrily went to knock on Qiao Nian’s door, “Come out! Stop pretending! I know you’re awake! What child hasn’t been hit by their parents? Yes, Mother was a bit impulsive today, but now she wants to apologize. What do you mean by refusing to see her? Can’t you see how hard it’s raining? Qiao Nian! Has your conscience been eaten by dogs?”
As his words fell, the door opened.
Lin Ye froze in place, his raised hand forgotten as he met Qiao Nian’s cold gaze.
Qiao Nian gave Lin Ye a brief glance before her eyes fell on Ning Shuang.
Seeing her maid struggling to get up from the ground, her eyes darkened.
“Is this how the Marquis’s household apologizes – by bullying my maid?”
Only then did everyone notice Ning Shuang.
Ning Shuang ignored them all, hurrying to Qiao Nian’s side.
Qiao Nian also ignored them, urging Ning Shuang to go change her clothes.
After Ning Shuang left, Lin Ye took a deep breath, lowering his hand, “She fell on her own. We didn’t even notice.”
“I believe that,” Qiao Nian said coldly, her sharp eyes piercing through the rain to look directly at Madam Lin. “When have you ever cared about others’ lives?”
When have you ever cared about my life?
These words seemed to stab at Madam Lin, who hurried toward Qiao Nian.
“It’s not like that, Nian Nian…”
She reached out, seemingly wanting to grab Qiao Nian’s hands, but Qiao Nian stepped back, putting her hands behind her.
Madam Lin’s hands grasped empty air, her tears falling harder, “Mother really didn’t mean to, Mother was just anxious, I couldn’t pull you away, so, so I…”
“So you chose to kill me?”
Qiao Nian asked mockingly, a sneer on her lips.
Madam Lin shook her head repeatedly, crying too hard to speak.
Lin Yuan stepped forward, “Sister, how can you speak like that? You know Mother is weak, she can’t even kill a chicken, how could she kill someone?”
Lin Ye also sneered, “Don’t push it. Mother has already apologized to you, what more do you want?”
Then, Qiao Nian looked down, taking out the small tooth from the red bundle.
Lin Ye clearly recognized it, his eyes brightening.
Qiao Nian said, “How could she not kill someone? You killed Lin Nian!”