NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 73: Who Exactly Is She to You?
Chapter 73: Who Exactly Is She to You?
However, it was obvious that this person couldn’t be brought back.
Lin Yuan was so protective of Xiao Cui, and knowing full well what it meant for Xiao Cui to go to Fanghe Court, how could she easily let her go?
So when Qiao Nian came out of the Old Madam’s courtyard and saw Ning Shuang standing beside her with a troubled face, she already knew what had happened.
“Miss…” Ning Shuang was about to report the situation, but Qiao Nian cut her off, “Let’s go to Luomei Court.”
As she spoke, she started walking towards Luomei Court.
Ning Shuang immediately followed, “Miss, are you really going to Luomei Court? If the Master and Madam find out…”
“Then let them know,” Qiao Nian’s chin was slightly raised, a faint smile on her lips. “Better yet, let Lin Ye know too.”
Hearing this, Ning Shuang looked puzzled, not understanding what her miss meant, but still gestured to the other maids to spread the news that the miss had gone to Luomei Court.
It was early spring now, and the plum blossoms in Luomei Court had already withered, with only a few scattered blooms still hanging on the branches.
It looked even more desolate than Fanghe Court.
Seeing Qiao Nian arrive, everyone in Luomei Court was on high alert.
A maid hurriedly came forward, head lowered, timidly asking, “Why… why has the First Young Miss come?”
The maid looked unfamiliar.
Qiao Nian smiled faintly, “What do you think?”
The maid quickly said, “My… my young miss is ill and probably not fit to see guests.”
“You’re lying!” Ning Shuang shouted sternly, “I saw your young miss going to pay respects to the Old Madam this morning!”
Obviously, the maid was prepared. Though timid, she still replied, “The young miss fell ill, that’s why she returned…”
“You!” Ning Shuang felt the maid was quibbling and was about to rush forward.
But Qiao Nian stopped her, “That’s fine, I’m not here to see your young miss today. Go, call Xiao Cui here.”
The maid still didn’t move, “Xiao Cui sister needs to attend to the Second Young Miss…”
“Insolent!”
Before the maid could finish speaking, Qiao Nian let out a stern shout, immediately frightening the maid to her knees.
Then Qiao Nian laughed coldly, deliberately raising her voice, “A courtyard full of maids, and only Xiao Cui is useful? Without Xiao Cui, would your miss be served to death by you all?”
As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Ye was the first to rush into Luomei Court.
Hmm, the timing was just right.
Seeing all the maids in the courtyard kneeling before Qiao Nian, Lin Ye’s brow furrowed deeply.
He had also heard Qiao Nian’s earlier words and immediately felt that Qiao Nian was being disrespectful. He shouted, “Your body has just recovered a bit and you’re here to cause trouble for Yuan’er? What has Yuan’er done to offend you?”
Qiao Nian rolled her eyes at Lin Ye, “Young Master Lin has misunderstood. I heard that Miss Lin was ill and came specially to visit her.
Tell me, the maids in this courtyard, their own mistress is ill, and they don’t call for the mansion’s doctor, only keeping one Xiao Cui for close attendance. What if Miss Lin’s illness takes a turn for the worse?”
Yuan’er is ill?
Lin Ye was shocked to hear this news from Qiao Nian’s mouth. He immediately turned to a nearby maid and said, “Go find the mansion’s doctor now!”
The maid left in response, and just then, Madam Lin also arrived, asking, “Why are you calling for the doctor?”
Qiao Nian turned and smiled at Madam Lin, “Miss Lin is ill.”
“Ill? I’ll go see her!”
As she spoke, she started walking inside.
Qiao Nian naturally followed.
Perhaps having heard the commotion outside, Lin Yuan was indeed lying in bed.
Xiao Cui stood by the bedside, and seeing Madam Lin enter, she curtsied, “This servant greets Madam.”
“Madam, the young miss suddenly developed a chill. She’s afraid of passing the illness to you, so please don’t come too close.”
Getting too close would easily expose the ruse.
Hearing this, Madam Lin indeed stopped her steps, looking from afar, “How did she fall ill so suddenly?”
Xiao Cui didn’t answer, and Lin Yuan on the bed also pretended to sleep without a word.
Only Qiao Nian gently reassured, “Don’t worry, Madam, the mansion’s doctor will be here soon.”
Hearing that the mansion’s doctor was coming, Xiao Cui suddenly became nervous.
But she still kept her head lowered without speaking.
Lin Ye, meanwhile, focused his attention on Qiao Nian, “Yuan’er is ill, why are you so concerned?”
This was too unusual.
But Qiao Nian smiled, “I’m not here to care about Miss Lin, but as we agreed that day in the ancestral hall, whenever I want to punish Xiao Cui, I can come and take her away at any time. That’s why I’m here.”
Hearing this, Lin Ye immediately darkened, “I knew you had no good intentions!”
Qiao Nian was already used to Lin Ye’s accusations.
She smiled slightly, “This was agreed upon in the Lin family ancestral hall. What, do the Lin family members not acknowledge it?”
“You!” Lin Ye was at a loss for words.
The four words “Lin family ancestral hall” seemed to press heavily on his head.
If they didn’t acknowledge it, wouldn’t that make him an unfilial descendant of the Lin family?
Even Madam Lin beside him frowned, her expression displeased, but she still spoke up, “It was indeed Yuan’er who said it herself back then. We can’t go back on it. Xiao Cui, go with the First Young Miss.”
She always believed there was no need to cause discord between sisters over a maid.
But unexpectedly, as soon as Madam Lin finished speaking, the previously sleeping person on the bed spoke up, “Xiao Cui… Xiao Cui…”
“This servant is here!” Xiao Cui hurriedly knelt by the bedside, tightly grasping Lin Yuan’s hand.
Then she turned to Madam Lin and said, “Madam, it’s not that this servant is unwilling to go with the First Young Miss, but the young miss is ill and only recognizes this servant. This servant is worried about the young miss and wants to stay to take care of her…”
As she spoke, tears began to fall.
Hmm, worthy of being master and servant, even their act followed the same routine.
Lin Ye couldn’t help but snap at Qiao Nian, “Look, do you have the heart to do this?”
Qiao Nian gave Lin Ye an exasperated look, “Is Xiao Cui a doctor? Or is her medical skill better than the mansion’s doctor?”
Hearing this, both Lin Ye and Madam Lin, who was about to persuade Qiao Nian, were stunned.
Qiao Nian laughed coldly, “Since Xiao Cui isn’t a doctor, don’t stay here and get in the way. The mansion’s doctor will be here shortly. Ning Shuang.”
At her command, Ning Shuang immediately came forward, grabbing Xiao Cui’s arm to pull her out.
Unexpectedly, Lin Yuan suddenly tightly grasped Xiao Cui’s hand, crying as she got out of bed, “No, don’t take Xiao Cui away! Mother, Brother, please help me persuade Sister, can’t you let Xiao Cui go?”
Her voice was loud and clear, not at all like someone who was ill.
Lin Ye and Madam Lin were both stunned.
Only Qiao Nian stepped forward with a cold smile, facing Lin Yuan’s tear-filled eyes, and asked with raised eyebrows, “So, Miss Lin was faking illness? All this just to prevent me from taking Xiao Cui away?”
Lin Yuan cried even harder, “Wuwu, Sister, I beg you, please let Xiao Cui go!”
As she spoke, Lin Yuan even knelt down before Qiao Nian.
Seeing this, Lin Ye’s eyes turned red with anger, “Qiao Nian! How far are you going to push people!”
But Qiao Nian ignored Lin Ye, her eyes coldly fixed on Lin Yuan, asking word by word, “Xiao Cui, who exactly is she to you?”