NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 72: The Rice is Cooked
Chapter 72: The Rice is Cooked
Xiao Heng’s eyes remained calm, his motion of raising the cup to drink uninterrupted. However, his voice carried an inexplicable chill as he said, “That would be a capital offense punishable by the execution of the entire family. Brother Lin, you shouldn’t joke about such things.”
Hearing this, Lin Ye couldn’t help but look at Xiao Heng with half-belief and half-doubt.
His earlier guess was indeed too extreme. If Xiao Heng really killed Prince Ming, it would undoubtedly be gambling with the entire Xiao family’s fate.
But was it worth it for someone like Qiao Nian?
Lin Ye naturally thought it wasn’t worth it, and he didn’t believe Xiao Heng would take such a big risk.
However, Xiao Heng’s current demeanor was too inscrutable, forcing him to overthink.
But he also knew that even if Xiao Heng was hiding something, unless Xiao Heng told him directly, he would never be able to guess.
So, he stopped dwelling on this matter and just frowned, saying, “Luring the tiger away from the mountain is indeed a good idea, but don’t forget, there’s still an imperial edict between Prince Ming and Nian Nian!”
With that imperial edict in place, even if Prince Ming left the capital, who would dare to marry Qiao Nian and risk the crime of defying an imperial order?
But Xiao Heng clearly already had someone in mind. He picked up the wine jug, poured a cup for Lin Ye, and after they clinked glasses and drank, he slowly spoke, “My elder brother.”
Lin Ye spat out the wine in his mouth, some of it even landing on Xiao Heng’s face.
“Xiao Heng, are you crazy?!” Lin Ye stared at Xiao Heng in shock. “Your elder brother is even worse than Prince Ming!”
Xiao Heng was the legitimate son of the family, but not the eldest legitimate son.
The Xiao family’s eldest son was named Xiao He, five years older than Xiao Heng and eight years older than Qiao Nian.
He was also a military officer, with battle achievements no less than Xiao Heng’s.
However, six years ago on the battlefield, Xiao He had both legs crushed by a horse, becoming disabled. Now he needed assistance for all daily activities.
He had visited Xiao He before and felt that Xiao He’s temper was even worse than Prince Ming’s.
Hearing Lin Ye’s words, Xiao Heng calmly took out a handkerchief from his pocket, wiped the wine from his cheek, and then said, “But my elder brother won’t beat her half to death.”
No matter how bad his temper was, Xiao He didn’t have the ability to harm Qiao Nian in any way.
Lin Ye’s initially shocked and even somewhat angry expression gradually subsided after hearing these words.
Then Xiao Heng’s indifferent voice continued, “Moreover, the Emperor owes my elder brother.”
Six years ago, such a spirited young man ended up in his current neither-living-nor-dead state just because the Emperor insisted on sending him to war.
So, the Emperor owed the Xiao family, and especially Xiao He.
Only if Xiao He married Qiao Nian could the Emperor turn a blind eye to that imperial marriage edict.
Lin Ye was persuaded and started considering the feasibility of this plan. He frustratedly gulped down some wine, but then said, “But how can we convince Nian Nian?”
In Lin Ye’s view, Qiao Nian was determined to become Prince Ming’s wife, even if it meant being beaten to death.
How could someone so set on marrying up agree to marry Xiao He?
Although Xiao He was the Xiao family’s legitimate son, his current status in the family was probably not even comparable to Xiao Heng’s, let alone Xiao Qingnu’s.
Seeing Lin Ye’s worried look, Xiao Heng didn’t seem anxious at all. His gaze swept over the wine cup in front of him before he said, “Let the rice be cooked.”
A woman’s reputation is of utmost importance. Once the deed is done, Qiao Nian would have no choice but to marry.
Lin Ye’s eyes widened immediately, “Let the rice be cooked? Can your elder brother even do that?”
How could such a disabled person who needed help with everything possibly manage that?
Xiao Heng’s eyes darkened as he coldly looked at Lin Ye.
Lin Ye felt a chill and realized that some things don’t necessarily need to be true to be believed.
As long as others think it’s true, that’s enough!
He secretly felt alarmed and gave Xiao Heng a look, frowning slightly, “After a few years of tempering on the battlefield, you’ve become even more cunning and devious!”
Xiao Heng took this as a compliment, the corner of his mouth curling into a cold smile.
But Lin Ye let out a long sigh, “But if it really comes to this, I’m afraid Nian Nian will hate me to the bone for the rest of her life!”
Even now, she refused to call him brother. If she ended up marrying Xiao He like this, she might consider him an enemy for life.
Xiao Heng lowered his eyes and smiled, “She will eventually understand that you’re doing this for her own good.”
Hearing this, Lin Ye snorted coldly, “That girl is ungrateful. It would be a miracle if she ever understood!”
But even if she didn’t understand, so what?
As her brother, he couldn’t possibly stand by and watch her jump into a fire pit knowing that Prince Ming would beat her to death!
Even if she hated him for life, it was better than her not living to see next year!
Having made up his mind, Lin Ye gulped down another mouthful of wine, his eyes now showing an extremely determined light.
Xiao Heng observed all of this, the corner of his mouth slightly raised, but he didn’t drink another drop of the wine on the table.
Time flew by, and a month passed.
Qiao Nian’s injuries had mostly healed. On this day, she went to pay her respects to the Old Madam as usual.
Just as she reached the courtyard of the Old Madam, Ning Shuang said, “Miss, look, it’s the Second Young Miss.”
Looking in the direction Ning Shuang pointed, Qiao Nian indeed saw Lin Yuan.
She and her maid were also heading towards the Old Madam’s courtyard, presumably to pay their respects as well.
However, upon seeing Qiao Nian, Lin Yuan’s steps halted.
Qiao Nian just quietly watched Lin Yuan, and heard Ning Shuang whisper beside her, “This servant dares to bet that the Second Young Miss will turn and leave again today.”
Over the past month, every time Lin Yuan encountered Qiao Nian, she would avoid her from afar.
Sure enough, today was no different.
Watching Lin Yuan bow to her from a distance before turning to leave, Qiao Nian couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.
Ning Shuang also had a look of secret joy, “Miss, see how sensible the Second Young Miss has become!”
Hearing this, Qiao Nian raised an eyebrow slightly, “Sensible? Do you think she’s afraid of me?”
Ning Shuang naturally thought so, but hearing Qiao Nian ask like this, she couldn’t help but be surprised, “Isn’t she?”
“Of course not,” Qiao Nian’s gaze fell on the two quickly departing figures. “It’s for Xiao Cui.”
She was worried that Qiao Nian would summon Xiao Cui to Fanghe Court for punishment, so she avoided her at every turn.
Hearing this, Ning Shuang frowned slightly, “This servant heard that the Second Young Miss even kowtowed to you for Xiao Cui that day?”
Qiao Nian nodded. She had to admit, Lin Yuan going to such lengths for a maid was truly admirable.
Unexpectedly, Ning Shuang suddenly lowered her voice and said, “Then, doesn’t Miss find it strange? Even if they grew up together, the Second Young Miss is now the pearl of the Marquis’s household. To kneel and kowtow for a maid…”
If Ning Shuang hadn’t said this, Qiao Nian would have simply thought that Lin Yuan and Xiao Cui truly had a deep bond between master and servant.
But now that Ning Shuang brought it up, Qiao Nian couldn’t help but feel puzzled.
Could the bond between master and servant really be so deep?
She frowned slightly, then said, “In half an hour, bring Xiao Cui to Fanghe Court.”