NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 69: An Eye for an Eye
Chapter 69: An Eye for an Eye
Before coming to the ancestral hall, Qiao Nian knew what she would be facing.
So now, faced with Madam Lin’s accusations and Marquis Lin’s angry glares, Qiao Nian chose to ignore them.
She slowly walked to the entrance of the ancestral hall, her eyes sweeping over the maids and servants standing outside, finally landing on Xiao Heng.
Meeting his deep gaze, Qiao Nian’s heart sank heavily, a pain like her heart being torn apart slowly spreading.
She thought, if possible, she truly wished that at this moment someone would stand in front of her, facing the Lin family’s blame for her, demanding justice on her behalf!
But clearly, Xiao Heng would never be that person.
Qiao Nian’s gaze made Xiao Heng’s heart inexplicably ache.
He was actually waiting, waiting for Qiao Nian to ask for his help. Then he would surely speak up for her, and Marquis Lin would certainly give him face.
But she only took a deep breath, then shifted her gaze, looking at the group of servants around, “Today, whoever saw Ning Shuang bite someone with their own eyes, step forward.”
Hearing this, several maids and servants stepped out from the crowd.
Seeing this, Lin Yuan’s face looked even more wronged.
Lin Ye, on the other hand, had a somewhat smug expression as he walked to Qiao Nian’s side and said coldly, “Well? I didn’t wrongly accuse your maid, did I?”
Qiao Nian ignored him and continued, “Then, who can tell me what happened before Ning Shuang bit Miss Lin?”
The servants who had stepped forward looked at each other, not daring to speak for a moment.
Lin Ye furrowed his brows, recalling what had happened earlier.
Before Ning Shuang bit Yuan’er… Yuan’er had grabbed Qiao Nian’s arm.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, he looked down at his right hand.
There was still a faint trace of blood visible.
Could it be…
A silence fell over the surroundings.
Qiao Nian’s heart sank to the bottom.
These servants were probably wary of Lin Ye, and not one of them dared to speak.
Was she truly alone and helpless today?
Just then, a servant suddenly spoke up, “Before Ning Shuang bit the Second Young Miss, the Second Young Miss had grabbed the First Young Miss’s arm, not letting her leave.”
Qiao Nian looked towards that servant, finding him familiar.
He should be one of those who had received a few taels of silver from her after carrying gifts to her courtyard before.
Once one person stepped forward, a second followed.
A maid also said, “This servant saw that Ning Shuang was very agitated at the time, constantly asking the Second Young Miss to let go, but the Second Young Miss insisted on holding onto the First Young Miss. Then Ning Shuang bit her.”
That was exactly what happened.
Qiao Nian looked gratefully at those two, then turned back to face Marquis Lin and Madam Lin.
“I’m sure you both understand now. Lin Yuan injured me first, and my maid, in her urgency to protect me, suddenly became fierce.”
Qiao Nian said coldly, but Xiao Cui suddenly jumped out, “First Young Miss, don’t make things up. We all heard clearly earlier, my Young Miss was just holding you, she didn’t hurt you.”
Qiao Nian had expected this challenge. Without waiting for Xiao Cui to finish, she had already rolled up her sleeve.
A collective gasp rose from those around.
They saw that Qiao Nian’s arm was wrapped in thick layers of gauze, clean everywhere except for the forearm area which was soaked with fresh blood.
That spot was exactly where Lin Yuan had been gripping tightly earlier.
Lin Yuan was also startled, tears falling rapidly, “I, I didn’t know sister was injured, I…”
“That’s right! How could my Young Miss know the First Young Miss was so badly injured? Ning Shuang only said to let go, she didn’t say the First Young Miss was injured!” Xiao Cui still maintained her righteous attitude.
But then Qiao Nian suddenly let out a cold laugh, turning to look at Madam Lin, “Oh? Miss Lin didn’t know about my injury? What does Madam Lin think?”
She had heard from Ning Shuang that during the days she was unconscious in bed, Lin Yuan had come with Madam Lin every day to see her, and had even helped change her bandages.
How could Lin Yuan not know about those bloody, mangled wounds on her body!
Madam Lin was stunned and hurriedly came forward, “This wound of yours needs to be treated by the doctor again! Quick, help the First Young Miss back, call for the doctor!”
At this moment, Qiao Nian felt utterly disheartened.
She smiled coldly, staring at Madam Lin, “In front of the Lin family ancestors, is your Lin family still going to bully people with your power?”
“Qiao Nian!” Marquis Lin shouted coldly, “Stop talking nonsense!”
He wouldn’t allow Qiao Nian to desecrate the Lin family ancestors!
But Qiao Nian just gave him a cold look, her gaze falling on Lin Ye, “Young Marquis, I’ll ask you once more, should anyone who hurts someone be punished, or only servants who hurt their masters?”
At this moment, Lin Ye could no longer say things like anyone who hurts someone should be punished.
Because he knew that Qiao Nian was the type to seek revenge for the slightest grievance. If he said those words, Yuan’er would certainly be punished today!
So, he said coldly, “As a servant of the Marquis’s household, daring to harm the masters naturally deserves punishment!”
“Good!”
This was exactly what Qiao Nian had been waiting for.
She knew that Lin Yuan was the darling of everyone in the Lin family, while she was just an abandoned adopted daughter, only brought back from the laundry because she still had some use value.
How could she possibly hurt Lin Yuan?
So today, Qiao Nian’s target was never Lin Yuan, but Xiao Cui!
She looked at Xiao Cui, the coldness curling at her lips making Xiao Cui panic.
“Why, why is the First Young Miss looking at this servant like that? This, this servant only fought back after being hit by Ning Shuang!” Xiao Cui said, continuously trying to hide behind Lin Yuan.
Lin Yuan also hurriedly shielded Xiao Cui, her eyes brimming with tears, “Sister, if you have anything, come at me. Xiao Cui is just a maid, she doesn’t know anything…”
“Doesn’t know anything, yet could publicly wrong me three years ago?” Qiao Nian interrupted Lin Yuan with a low shout.
It wasn’t that Qiao Nian wanted to shout softly, but the pain in her back was too severe, making it hard for her to raise her voice.
Lin Yuan was startled, not expecting Qiao Nian to bring up what happened three years ago.
Not just Lin Yuan, but everyone in the Lin family was shocked.
Outside, there were still many servants!
If this spread, it could even be considered a crime of deceiving the emperor!
Marquis Lin immediately shouted sternly, “Qiao Nian, what exactly are you trying to do!”
Qiao Nian glanced at Marquis Lin, her eyes full of mockery, “I want justice! My maid is to receive thirty lashes just for leaving a bite mark on Lin Yuan’s arm, so how many lashes should Xiao Cui receive?”
Unexpectedly, Lin Ye frowned deeply and shouted, “That was three years ago, what’s the point of bringing it up now!”
“Fine, then let’s not talk about three years ago.” Qiao Nian replied particularly quickly, making Lin Ye and Lin Yuan even more uneasy.
Then Qiao Nian said, “Let’s talk about how, not long ago, I risked my life to save Lin Yuan, yet this lowly servant turned around and falsely accused me of harming someone. How about that?”
Seeing the coldness in Qiao Nian’s eyes, Lin Ye’s heart sank.
He knew that today, Xiao Cui was unavoidably in trouble!