NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 61: Will the Prince Kill Me?
Chapter 61: Will the Prince Kill Me?
Everyone knows that for the past three years, whenever the Old Madam of the Lin family found a suitable opportunity, she would beg the Empress to release Qiao Nian. And Qiao Nian cared most about the Old Madam.
The Lin family knew how to use the Old Madam to control Qiao Nian, and Xiao Heng knew how to use the Old Madam to threaten Qiao Nian. Naturally, Prince Ming understood this as well.
Sure enough, Qiao Nian, who had been struggling, suddenly stopped moving when she heard Prince Ming’s words. Her mouth, which had been wide open due to suffocation, suddenly closed, but her eyes remained fixed on Prince Ming.
Prince Ming hadn’t expected that just this one sentence could make Qiao Nian give up her resistance. After a moment of surprise, an unprecedented sense of excitement swept over him. He suddenly released Qiao Nian and shouted impatiently towards the outside of the carriage, “Are we there yet?”
“My lord, we’re almost there!” The response from outside the carriage finally suppressed Prince Ming’s anger temporarily.
He sat back down, tilted his head, and scrutinized Qiao Nian from top to bottom with his sharp gaze, as if considering where to start once they arrived.
At this moment, Qiao Nian was just covering her neck, breathing heavily. Surprisingly, there wasn’t the slightest trace of fear on her face regarding what was about to come. This only increased Prince Ming’s interest in her.
As expected, the carriage stopped shortly after. Before it had even come to a complete stop, Prince Ming rose impatiently and forcibly dragged Qiao Nian out of the carriage.
Only then did Qiao Nian realize they were in front of a separate courtyard. This courtyard looked no different from other mansions, but its sudden appearance in the desolate wilderness indicated that its purpose wouldn’t be simple.
A few words immediately popped into Qiao Nian’s mind: No one would answer cries to heaven or earth!
In this place, no matter how agonizing the screams, probably no one would hear them.
“Get in!” Prince Ming dragged Qiao Nian towards the mansion, looking as eager as a starved ghost.
The carriage driver who had been with them ran ahead and opened the door to a room before Prince Ming could reach it. Prince Ming shoved Qiao Nian inside.
The room was very dark. All the windows were nailed shut with wooden boards, letting in no light. Using the light from the doorway, the driver skillfully found some matches and lit several candles.
It was then that Qiao Nian finally saw the room clearly. Apart from a chair, there was no other furniture. The candleholders were all attached to the walls. Through the dim candlelight, she could clearly see many dark red stains on the walls. They were dried bloodstains.
Even the air had a faint smell of blood. It wasn’t hard to imagine what had happened in this room before…
“Bang!” The driver went out and slammed the door shut. Before leaving, he handed his whip to Prince Ming.
Without the light from outside, the room was incredibly dark with just the few small candleholders. Qiao Nian could barely see Prince Ming’s face.
She saw Prince Ming walk to the chair and sit down, opening his arms towards Qiao Nian. “How does Nian Nian like this place of mine?”
Qiao Nian looked around before asking, “Is this the west of the city?”
The corner of Prince Ming’s mouth lifted slightly. “So someone indeed told Nian Nian something.”
Qiao Nian didn’t speak, but inwardly she was mocking her own stupidity.
Seeing her like this, Prince Ming’s eyes revealed a hint of desire. “Isn’t Nian Nian afraid?”
Hearing this, Qiao Nian looked at Prince Ming and coldly asked back, “Will the Prince kill me?”
Prince Ming stared at her intently, then shook his head.
Qiao Nian had already anticipated this answer. Since Prince Ming needed to marry her, he wouldn’t take her life. It was precisely because he couldn’t take her life that he used her grandmother to threaten her not to speak out!
Qiao Nian took a deep breath before speaking, “Since the Prince won’t take my life, then I have nothing to fear.”
She hadn’t seen any torture instruments in the room. The only instrument of torture was the whip in Prince Ming’s hand. During those three years in the laundry, she had been whipped countless times. If she had survived three years, she could surely endure today.
Seeing her fearless demeanor, Prince Ming’s excitement was almost bursting from his eyes. He slowly stood up and walked towards Qiao Nian. “I told you earlier that I like this attitude of yours the most.”
As he spoke, he reached out and tucked Qiao Nian’s hair behind her ear, just like he had done earlier in the palace. But this time, he suddenly grabbed Qiao Nian’s earring and yanked it hard.
“Ah!” Qiao Nian cried out in pain, instinctively raising her hand to cover her ear. Her palm was instantly wet with warmth.
Prince Ming looked at the blood-dripping earring in his hand, his chest heaving violently. The smile on his face was almost uncontrollable as he looked at Qiao Nian and finally raised the whip in his hand…
Meanwhile, at the Marquis’s mansion.
Xiao Heng had brought many good things to visit the Old Madam again today. The Old Madam, reclining on a soft couch, couldn’t help but chuckle as she looked at the precious medicinal herbs that were brought. “You rascal, I haven’t even finished the things you brought last time! Why bring so many more?”
Xiao Heng smiled warmly, “Of course it’s to show filial piety to the Old Madam. In my heart, the Old Madam is like my own grandmother.”
These words undoubtedly pleased the Old Madam. But she also knew that Xiao Heng hadn’t come just for her today. So after chatting with him for a bit, she pretended to be tired and told Xiao Heng to go play with the younger generation.
Xiao Heng naturally agreed and left the Old Madam’s courtyard, heading towards Lin Ye’s quarters.
Halfway there, he saw Lin Ye and Lin Yuan.
Seeing Xiao Heng, Lin Yuan blushed and called out softly, “Brother Heng.”
Xiao Heng nodded slightly in acknowledgment, then heard Lin Ye say, “This girl heard you were coming and insisted on dragging me here to find you.”
With these words, both Lin Ye and Xiao Heng were stunned. Because Lin Ye used to say this often before. But back then, the girl he referred to was Qiao Nian.
Lin Ye felt a trace of irritation in his heart. Why on earth was he thinking about that girl?
He immediately snorted coldly, “She’s probably clinging to the Noble Consort’s leg, refusing to come back!” At this hour!
Lin Yuan looked at Lin Ye in confusion, “Is brother talking about sister?”
But why suddenly mention sister?
Lin Ye was annoyed at himself for mentioning Qiao Nian out of nowhere, so he didn’t respond.
However, Lin Yuan continued, “I just heard from the returning carriage driver that sister went boating with Prince Ming.”
Xiao Heng frowned, “Just the two of them?”
Lin Yuan’s heart trembled, feeling that Xiao Heng seemed to care too much about Qiao Nian, so she didn’t speak.
Lin Ye waved his hand dismissively, “Oh, it’s just boating, not like they went to the west of the city. It must be Noble Consort De’s idea for them to cultivate their relationship!”
Xiao Heng didn’t respond, only feeling an ominous premonition slowly spreading.
Unexpectedly, Lin Ye suddenly put his arm around Xiao Heng’s shoulders, “Don’t mention that girl, it’s annoying. It’s been a long time since we brothers had a small gathering. Come on, let’s go drink!”
Lin Yuan stood frozen, watching their retreating figures. The words on the tip of her tongue hesitated again and again, but ultimately weren’t spoken.
The carriage driver had said that the direction they went was indeed towards the west of the city…