NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 60: Considering Grandmother
Chapter 60: Considering Grandmother
Though he was smiling, Qiao Nian clearly heard the displeasure hidden in Prince Ming’s gentle tone.
But it was understandable for Prince Ming to be angry. These earrings carried too many stories between her and Xiao Heng.
Yesterday she had thrown them away in front of everyone, yet today they reappeared on her ears. As her fiancé, it was only natural for Prince Ming to be upset.
So she honestly explained, “Perhaps because I discarded them publicly yesterday, damaging General Xiao’s face, that’s why General Xiao ordered me to wear them earlier. If I didn’t wear them, I’m afraid he would go to my grandmother and say some nonsense…”
Prince Ming knew her grandmother was in poor health.
“I see,” Prince Ming showed an expression of sudden realization. “I thought Nian Nian liked them and had picked them up again. So it was General Xiao who gave them to you.”
As he finished speaking, the darkness in Prince Ming’s eyes became increasingly apparent.
Qiao Nian’s brow furrowed slightly, “Your Highness, please don’t worry. After I return, I’ll clarify things with General Xiao, and I won’t wear these earrings again.”
“Is that so?” His light tone carried a hint of mockery. “What if he keeps threatening you with your grandmother?”
Qiao Nian was stunned. She hadn’t considered this possibility.
After all, they were just a pair of earrings. Surely Xiao Heng wouldn’t keep fixating on her after venting his anger over yesterday’s loss of face?
He was now a great general of the country; he shouldn’t be so childish!
Prince Ming smiled gently, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind Qiao Nian’s ear. His fingers lightly brushed her earlobe, and for a moment, the cruelty in his eyes almost overflowed, but he ultimately held it back.
Withdrawing his hand, he chuckled lightly, “Would you like to go somewhere with me?”
Hearing this, Qiao Nian’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.
Could it be the west of the city?
What exactly was in the west of the city?
Seeing Qiao Nian’s face stiffen, Prince Ming raised an eyebrow in confusion, “What’s wrong? You don’t want to?”
Qiao Nian slowly shook her head and asked tentatively, “Your Highness, where do you want to take me?”
Prince Ming’s gentle eyes looked quietly at Qiao Nian as he smiled, “To the lake, of course. Yesterday was my fault for inviting so many people and ruining our date. Today, it’ll be just the two of us. How about that?”
His gentle voice was like a spring breeze, captivating.
It was as if the darkness and cruelty in his eyes moments ago had never existed!
But Qiao Nian knew she hadn’t seen wrong.
She knew even more that Prince Ming must be hiding some secret that Liu Niang hadn’t detected!
The lake wasn’t in the west of the city, so there was no harm in going.
Qiao Nian nodded slightly, “Alright.”
A flash of triumph crossed Prince Ming’s eyes, “Then I’ll have someone prepare right away.”
The preparation was simply arranging a carriage.
Qiao Nian sat upright in the carriage, quickly adjusting her posture even when the carriage occasionally jolted.
This scene made Prince Ming laugh, “Is Nian Nian nervous?”
Qiao Nian was startled, then shook her head.
It wasn’t that she was nervous, but the carriage wasn’t large, and if she relaxed her legs even slightly, they would touch Prince Ming’s body.
It was already improper for an unmarried man and woman to ride in the same carriage; she didn’t want any more physical contact.
But then Prince Ming suddenly asked, “Was Nian Nian also this nervous when riding in carriages with General Xiao before?”
Qiao Nian’s face stiffened, and she looked up at Prince Ming, only to see his gentle smile.
As if he was truly just curious.
But Qiao Nian had never ridden alone in a carriage with Xiao Heng before. In fact, she had rarely been alone with Xiao Heng at all. There was always Lin Ye or servants around.
Though she liked Xiao Heng, she had never crossed the line of propriety.
Seeing Qiao Nian not answer, Prince Ming’s smile deepened, “This Prince was just asking casually, Nian Nian needn’t take it to heart.”
However, he continued to ask, “What does Nian Nian like about General Xiao?”
This time, he didn’t wait for Qiao Nian’s answer.
Instead, he began speaking on his own, “Do you like his handsome and dashing appearance, or his martial prowess and strategic mind? Or perhaps both?”
“Xiao Heng is indeed a rare talent. Not just Nian Nian, even that girl Shu Yuan likes him. That’s why after you broke that crystal bowl years ago, she deliberately made a big deal out of it and sent you to the laundry bureau.”
Shu Yuan was the current Princess Royal’s given name.
Qiao Nian was shocked, never imagining there was such a connection to the events of three years ago.
No wonder Princess Shu Yuan had insisted on punishing her by sending her to the laundry bureau, and even instructed the palace maids to mistreat her for the following three years…
But right now, what worried her wasn’t Princess Shu Yuan, but Prince Ming!
She took a deep breath before asking, “Why is Your Highness suddenly bringing this up?”
Prince Ming didn’t answer directly, “Of course you like everything about him. You were once willing to give your life for Xiao Heng. No, even for just the earrings Xiao Heng gave you, you were willing to risk your life. How could someone you liked so much suddenly become someone you don’t like? Isn’t that right?”
“This Prince allows you to like him.”
Prince Ming was still smiling, but more and more malice gradually appeared in that smile.
Looking at his smile, the uneasiness in Qiao Nian’s heart grew stronger.
As if suddenly realizing something, she hurriedly reached out to lift the carriage curtain. The carriage had already reached the outskirts of the city.
The surroundings were desolate. This wasn’t the way to Bright Lake!
“Did someone say something to Nian Nian?”
Prince Ming’s voice suddenly sounded above Qiao Nian’s head.
Qiao Nian was startled to find that Prince Ming had somehow come to her side. He was standing, his upper body leaning over, almost pressing down on her.
The dangerous aura emanating from him made Qiao Nian’s heart involuntarily tighten.
But she held back, not letting herself show any reaction.
She looked directly at Prince Ming, her voice very calm, “I don’t understand what Your Highness is saying.”
Unexpectedly, Prince Ming suddenly burst into laughter.
He looked down at her, like a beast staring at prey that couldn’t escape. The bloodthirst in his eyes was no longer concealed, but shone brightly, “What This Prince likes most is your appearance like this. You’re clearly in pain, but you endure it. You’re clearly afraid, but you don’t say it. You think your self-perceived strength is real strength? Hahaha, hahaha…”
He laughed loudly without restraint.
Qiao Nian gritted her teeth, staring intently at Prince Ming, “My marriage to Your Highness was bestowed by the Emperor. If Your Highness truly wants to do something, shouldn’t you be mindful of the Emperor and the Marquis’s household?”
Prince Ming’s laughter gradually subsided.
But that cruel smile didn’t disappear.
He reached out and suddenly gripped Qiao Nian’s chin, with such force that it seemed he wanted to crush her bones.
“Do you know what This Prince hates most?” He sneered, his eyes sharp, “This Prince hates it most when others use the Emperor to pressure me!”
With that, he pushed her back hard.
Qiao Nian’s head slammed against the carriage wall, and Prince Ming’s hand moved to her neck, squeezing harder and harder, as if he wanted to strangle her, “But you’re right, This Prince should be mindful of the Emperor and the Marquis’s household…”
As he finished speaking, he pressed his face close, his lips near Qiao Nian’s ear. His warm breath carried the most terrifying chill as he said, “However, you’ll also be mindful of your grandmother, won’t you?”