NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 62: You All Knew?
Chapter 62: You All Knew?
It was getting late.
Qiao Nian woke up groggily, lying on the ground. Looking at the nearly burnt-out candles on the surrounding walls, she thought it must be quite late.
But she didn’t know exactly how much time had passed.
She only knew that Prince Ming’s whip had lashed her back again and again, only stopping when he was completely exhausted.
She could even recall Prince Ming’s unrestrained, gleeful laughter as he finally left…
Like an evil spirit from the underworld, laughing maniacally after inflicting extreme cruelty.
Her back burned with pain.
She dared not move.
The blood had stuck to her clothes, and even the slightest movement caused a pulling and friction that felt like her heart was being torn out.
It hurt so much…
It really hurt so much!
Much more painful than the beatings from the matrons at the laundry!
However, his technique was very precise. Not a single mark was left on her hands or face.
In fact, before whipping her, he had specifically ordered her to remove her outer garments.
Fortunately, she had removed her outer clothes.
Otherwise, if she returned to the mansion in this injured state, her grandmother would surely find out.
Thinking of this, Qiao Nian’s fingers twitched slightly, and then, ignoring the thousand cutting pains on her back, she struggled to stand up.
She couldn’t stay here any longer. It was getting late, and she needed to go back.
Otherwise, her grandmother would worry if she knew she hadn’t returned!
Perhaps hearing movement inside the room, the door opened, and the coachman from earlier stood outside.
Seeing Qiao Nian standing there covered in blood, the coachman’s face showed a flash of terror, but he quickly lowered his head and said, “The Prince ordered this servant to take Miss Qiao back to the mansion.”
Qiao Nian glanced at the coachman indifferently, saying nothing. She just staggered to the side, picked up her outer garment, and painfully put it on.
She tried her best to keep her back straight, afraid that the blood would stain her outer clothes.
After finally managing to fasten the last button, she lifted her foot to walk out.
The coachman followed at a distance, seemingly worried that Qiao Nian might collapse and touch him if she couldn’t hold on.
However, despite her unsteady gait, Qiao Nian managed to walk to the carriage successfully.
Just as she was about to get in, Qiao Nian couldn’t help but turn back to look at the coachman and ask in a low voice, “Including me, how many people have come to this mansion?”
Her throat was dry from the torture, and Qiao Nian’s voice was extremely hoarse.
One could even hear a hint of weakness in it.
But even with this weak and hoarse voice, it carried a spine-chilling authority.
So much so that after a brief moment of shock, the coachman truthfully replied, “Miss, you are exactly the fifteenth.”
Fifteen?
Tsk, not a lucky number.
She had been sent to the laundry after living in the Marquis’s mansion for fifteen years.
She thought for a moment and asked again, “Of the previous girls, did any of them walk out?”
She actually wanted to ask if any had come out alive.
But fearing that asking so bluntly might make the coachman afraid to answer.
Even now, the coachman slightly lowered his head, not daring to look at Qiao Nian.
But he gently shook his head.
Qiao Nian understood in her heart and used all her strength to climb into the carriage.
Outside, it was indeed quite late.
Dusk had already fallen, and by the time the carriage stopped outside the Marquis’s mansion, it was almost dark.
As soon as Qiao Nian got out of the carriage, Lin Ye’s cold mockery came from behind, “I wondered who would be visiting the Marquis’s mansion so late, turns out it’s Miss Qiao!”
Qiao Nian’s brows furrowed slightly.
She had no energy to tangle with him today.
The wounds on her back were too painful; she wanted to return to Fanghe Court, to see Ning Shuang…
So, she pretended not to hear and lifted her foot to enter the mansion.
Unexpectedly, Lin Ye suddenly rushed forward and grabbed Qiao Nian’s arm, “This young marquis is talking to you, what kind of attitude is this!”
The strong smell of alcohol nearly made Qiao Nian faint, but the piercing pain in her back kept her conscious.
Lin Yuan caught up from behind Lin Ye, gently persuading, “Brother, don’t be angry. Sister went out with Prince Ming today, that’s why she’s back late. For Prince Ming’s sake, you shouldn’t give Sister a hard time.”
“Prince Ming’s sake?” Lin Ye laughed coldly, “Yes, I should give Prince Ming some face. Look how good he is to you, even taking you out boating! In my opinion, someone like you should be taken directly to the west side of the city!”
Qiao Nian’s previously expressionless face suddenly showed shock at Lin Ye’s words.
“You… know about the west side?” She finally spoke, but the hoarseness in her throat made Lin Ye pause, even sobering him up a bit.
He stared at Qiao Nian, his eyes showing a hint of scrutiny, finally landing on Qiao Nian’s earlobe.
The blood had dried, but one could still see that she had been injured.
No wonder he had been vaguely smelling blood since earlier.
But could such a small injury produce such a smell of blood?
Lin Ye was momentarily stunned and didn’t speak.
Unexpectedly, Qiao Nian suddenly raised her voice and asked, “Do you know about the west side?”
Her emotions became agitated, causing the wounds on her back to be pulled, making her entire back feel as if salt had been poured on it. The pain was so intense that beads of cold sweat instantly appeared on her forehead.
Lin Ye was first stunned, then suddenly pushed Qiao Nian, “How dare you shout at me!”
Qiao Nian was already barely holding on. If she wasn’t afraid that her grandmother would find out and worry, she probably would have fainted in the carriage.
Now, pushed by Lin Ye, she fell to the ground and couldn’t get up for a long time.
She only heard Lin Ye’s angry shouts from behind, “What does it matter if I know or not? I’ve told you long ago that Prince Ming is no good, but you insisted on clinging to him, thinking you’ve found support, found a backer? Hah! Ridiculous! Let me tell you, it’s a fire pit! If you jump in, you’ll be burned to ashes!”
Qiao Nian’s back was truly in so much pain that it was almost numb.
But she didn’t know if it was numb from the pain, or if the pain in her heart had taken over, making the pain on her back seem less noticeable.
She still couldn’t get up, and didn’t even have the strength to look at Lin Ye, but stubbornly asked again, “So, you know about the west side?”
Seeing her in such a miserable state, Lin Ye felt like he couldn’t breathe for a moment, but this feeling made him even more irritable.
Suddenly, he realized that he seemed to be afraid to say the answer.
But what was there to be afraid of?
What was there to be afraid of in front of Qiao Nian?
So he shouted fiercely, “Yes, I’ve known about the west side for a long time, I’ve known for a long time that Prince Ming is not only a cripple but also a pervert! So what!”
“Ye’er!” An angry shout came from not far away. It was Marquis Lin.
He was seen approaching quickly, furious, “Who gave you permission to speak about Prince Ming like this!” Even within the mansion, such disrespectful words should not be spoken carelessly!
But Lin Ye had been drinking today and was in a bad mood, so he was very resistant to Marquis Lin’s scolding. He immediately retorted, “This is no longer a secret, what’s wrong with saying it!”
No longer a secret?
Qiao Nian heard the implication and slowly raised her head to look at Marquis Lin, who was now standing not far in front of her, “So, you all knew?”