LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 48: That Wasn't Hers
Chapter 48: That Wasn’t Hers
Lin Nian, who was once the precious pearl of the Marquis’s household, who was loved and cherished by all of them, who had loved them back and valued them more than her own life!
They had killed her with their own hands!
The small white tooth fell to the ground, rolled twice, and dropped into the nearby flowerbed.
Qiao Nian stared directly at Madam Lin, as if telling her that those were Lin Nian’s things, not hers.
And Lin Nian was already dead.
At this moment, Madam Lin couldn’t speak a word.
She even forgot to cry.
She stared at Qiao Nian, the emotions in her eyes gradually breaking down, finally shattering completely.
But Qiao Nian’s eyes remained calm from beginning to end, unnaturally calm for any human.
Lin Ye even thought it would be better if Qiao Nian would properly argue with him, to vent her unhappiness, to shout out all the messy things between her and this family.
At least that would be better than now.
Now, she seemed to care about no one in this family.
Oh no, there was someone she cared about.
Qiao Nian withdrew her gaze from Madam Lin and turned to Lin Ye, “Young Lord should know Grandmother’s health is poor. Although this place is far from her residence, if this continues, she might find out, so…”
Qiao Nian glanced coldly at the mother and her two children, “Aren’t you leaving?”
Her tone and attitude were truly uncomfortable, but Lin Ye knew Qiao Nian spoke the truth.
If Grandmother fell ill again because of them, he as her grandson would bear a lifetime of blame!
He moved to lead Madam Lin away, but unexpectedly, the previously crying Madam Lin seemed like a different person.
She stared at Qiao Nian’s feet, her face unusually calm, “Since you’re concerned about your Grandmother’s health, you should know better what would happen if your brother’s matter was exposed.”
Perhaps because Madam Lin was too calm, her tone unlike her usual self, Lin Ye couldn’t help but call out softly, “Mother!”
Even Lin Yuan looked at Madam Lin in confusion, not understanding what had happened in this brief moment.
Madam Lin continued, “Your brother is the only male heir of the Marquis’s household. If something happens to him, the entire household will be finished. What would your Grandmother think then? Could her health withstand such terrible news? Would she still care for you? Think about it carefully!”
Though Qiao Nian was also surprised by Madam Lin’s current behavior, she wasn’t as shocked as Lin Yuan and Lin Ye.
After a brief pause, Qiao Nian gave a mocking smile, “So, Madam Lin’s earlier performance was just to say this?”
“Regardless of what you think, this concerns the survival of the Marquis’s household. I cannot let you act recklessly!”
Madam Lin’s voice was firm, but her body was trembling slightly.
Qiao Nian didn’t notice, but Lin Yuan, who was supporting Madam Lin, felt it and softly called, “Mother…”
Lin Yuan’s voice was delicate, very different from Qiao Nian’s current voice, but it somewhat resembled Qiao Nian’s voice from when she was thirteen or fourteen.
For a moment, Madam Lin thought it was Qiao Nian calling her.
Her heart stirred, and she quickly looked up at Qiao Nian, only to see her staring back with eyes full of mockery.
“So, does Madam Lin have anything else to say?” Qiao Nian asked.
Only then did Madam Lin realize it wasn’t Qiao Nian who had called her.
As if stabbed in the heart, Madam Lin took a deep breath before speaking, “This is your Grandmother’s courtyard. Your staying here will disturb her. Since you’re awake, you should return to your own courtyard.”
Qiao Nian understood that Madam Lin’s performance today was meant to deliver those earlier words.
Indeed, she had realized that even for Grandmother’s sake, she couldn’t drag Lin Ye down. She couldn’t let Grandmother watch her most beloved granddaughter send the household’s only male heir to his doom, nor could she let Grandmother witness the household’s downfall.
But hearing these things from Madam Lin’s mouth still hurt deeply.
Even though she had already given up on Madam Lin and this household.
She lowered her eyes, took a deep breath, suppressing the suffocating pain in her heart.
When she looked up again, her expression was still mocking, “For Grandmother’s sake, I can let things go, but the Lin family still owes me an explanation for recent events.”
Hearing this, Madam Lin nodded slightly, “Indeed, you deserve an explanation. Ye’er, go kneel in the ancestral hall. Don’t rise without my order!”
Knowing he was at fault, and seeing his mother’s unusual state, Lin Ye dared not disobey, “Yes!”
Qiao Nian watched coldly.
After a few breaths of silence, Madam Lin spoke again, “Yuan’er, you go too!”
“Mother!” Lin Ye exclaimed.
He didn’t understand why his mother was punishing Lin Yuan when he was the one who had done wrong!
But Madam Lin said, “If Yuan’er hadn’t taken it upon herself to complain to your Grandmother, she wouldn’t have fallen ill! We’re fortunate nothing worse happened. If she had been angered to death, even your deaths wouldn’t be enough to atone!”
These words left Lin Ye with no strength to argue.
Lin Yuan began crying, sniffling as she stepped back, “Yes, Yuan’er was wrong. I’ll go to the ancestral hall to ask forgiveness from the ancestors!”
After speaking, Lin Yuan ran away hurriedly.
“Young Miss!” Xiao Cui cried out, immediately chasing after her.
Lin Ye, worried about Lin Yuan, quickly followed.
His servant with the umbrella looked between Madam Lin and Lin Ye, ultimately deciding to stay and hold the umbrella for Madam Lin.
Qiao Nian glanced at the conflicted servant, and for some reason, she felt both amused and bitter.
It seemed that in Lin Ye’s heart, Lin Yuan’s importance had even surpassed Madam Lin’s.
She didn’t understand what kind of magical power Lin Yuan possessed!
The smile at her lips turned bitter.
Madam Lin stared deeply at her, yet seemed unable to see her clearly.
Just then, Ning Shuang returned in fresh clothes.
Seeing this, Qiao Nian bowed to Madam Lin and turned to leave.
In the vast courtyard, only Madam Lin and the umbrella-holding servant remained.
Seeing Madam Lin staring blankly at Qiao Nian’s retreating figure, the servant couldn’t help saying, “Madam, you’re soaked. You should return quickly!”
Unexpectedly, when Madam Lin suddenly came to her senses, she rushed toward the flowerbed.
The servant was startled and hurried after her, watching as Madam Lin, heedless of her muddy hands, searched for something in the flowerbed.
Just as he was about to ask, he saw Madam Lin retrieve a small, white object from the mud.
He recognized it as what the First Young Miss had thrown away earlier.