After Being A Slave For Three Years, The Entire Marquis’s Manor Kneels To Beg For My Forgiveness

Chapter 74: I Know What I’m Doing

That single question left Lin Yuan stunned on the spot.

She stared at Qiao Nian in astonishment, her flickering eyes showing shock, panic, and even… fear?

Qiao Nian didn’t understand why Lin Yuan would look frightened just from being asked about a maid’s identity.

Lin Yuan was so shocked she even forgot to cry, just standing there dazed without saying a word.

But Lin Ye couldn’t stand by anymore.

He stepped forward, pushing Qiao Nian aside, and bent down to help Lin Yuan up. “Xiao Cui grew up with Yuan’er. They’re like sisters. Do you think everyone is as cold-blooded and heartless as you?!”

Even Madam Lin chimed in, “Nian Nian, Mother knows you must be worried about someone with ulterior motives being around your sister, but rest assured, we had people investigate when Yuan’er returned to the mansion. Xiao Cui is the daughter of Yuan’er’s… of your birth parents’ neighbors, so she’s especially close to Yuan’er.”

Madam Lin deliberately mentioned Qiao Nian’s birth parents.

At such a moment, it was unclear if she was trying to prove Xiao Cui’s clean background or to embarrass Qiao Nian.

However, it didn’t matter.

Qiao Nian had long stopped caring about what these people in the Marquis’s household would say.

She just nodded slightly, “No wonder Miss Lin is so protective of Xiao Cui. But wrongdoing must be punished, especially since Miss Lin said it herself that day. As the future mistress of the Xiao family, you can’t afford to gain a reputation for being selfish, biased, and untrustworthy, can you?”

With these weighty labels placed on her, Lin Yuan could only sob in Lin Ye’s arms.

Xiao Cui, realizing she had put Lin Yuan in a difficult position, quickly said, “This servant is willing to go with the First Young Miss.”

As long as her young miss wouldn’t be subject to gossip, it would be fine.

Seeing Xiao Cui being so sensible, Lin Yuan immediately buried her face in Lin Ye’s shoulder and began to cry loudly.

But after today’s events, neither Lin Ye nor Madam Lin could say another word to help Lin Yuan. In the spacious room, only Lin Yuan’s increasingly loud sobs could be heard.

Qiao Nian’s lips curved into a smile, “It’s admirable that Xiao Cui understands the bigger picture. Then I won’t disturb Miss Lin’s recuperation.” With that, she signaled to Ning Shuang.

Ning Shuang understood, stepping forward to grab Xiao Cui and head out.

Qiao Nian also bowed to Madam Lin before turning to leave.

Unexpectedly, Madam Lin suddenly called out after her, “Nian Nian!”

Qiao Nian paused her steps, turning back to look coldly at Madam Lin, “Yes?”

Madam Lin looked troubled, hesitating for a moment before speaking, “Tomorrow, could you accompany Mother to the palace? Noble Consort De has been thinking of you. Would you sit with her for a while and have a heart-to-heart?”

After she was nearly beaten to death by Noble Consort De’s son, they wanted her to go to the palace to sit and have a heart-to-heart with Noble Consort De?

A chill ran through Qiao Nian’s heart, but her lips curved slightly upward as she nodded, “Alright!”

It had been a month, and she indeed should make a trip to the palace.

If she didn’t go to the palace to see Noble Consort De soon, Prince Ming might come to invite her to the west side of the city!

Hearing Qiao Nian’s response, Madam Lin visibly relaxed, her smile becoming much brighter.

She stepped forward, speaking gently, “Mother knew you were the most sensible…”

But before she could finish, Qiao Nian had already turned to leave, not giving Madam Lin any chance to get close to her.

How to put it…

Now, getting close to anyone from the Lin family made her feel sick!

Although Xiao Cui had voluntarily followed Qiao Nian, the closer they got to Fanghe Court, the more frightened she became. If it weren’t for Ning Shuang firmly dragging her along, she probably would have run away long ago.

Ning Shuang was strong. Despite being about the same size as Xiao Cui, she could firmly restrain her.

As soon as they crossed the stone bridge, Ning Shuang kicked the back of Xiao Cui’s knee and shouted sternly, “Kneel down!”

A perceptive maid quickly brought a chair for Qiao Nian.

Qiao Nian sat down, and Ning Shuang handed her a cup of hot tea. Qiao Nian took it, using the lid to gently push aside the tea leaves floating on the surface.

Once, then again.

The clear sound of the lid tapping against the cup seemed like a sharp knife, stabbing into Xiao Cui’s heart again and again.

Xiao Cui knelt there, her whole body trembling.

It was a far cry from her self-righteous and righteous attitude when she wrongly accused Qiao Nian three years ago.

Qiao Nian finally took a sip of tea and smiled faintly, “Did you ever think you’d end up in my hands one day?”

These words seemed to trigger something in Xiao Cui. She crawled forward on her knees, grabbing Qiao Nian’s ankle and begging for mercy, “First Young Miss, please spare me! This servant was wrong! This servant was blinded by greed back then, but this servant never imagined the First Young Miss would be taken to the laundry house to be a servant for three years! These past three years, this servant has been very remorseful. It was this servant’s fault. This servant kowtows to the First Young Miss!”

With that, she began to kowtow to Qiao Nian.

Again and again, the sound was quite loud.

Before long, Xiao Cui’s forehead was bleeding from the kowtowing, causing the surrounding maids to feel a twinge in their hearts.

Qiao Nian remained cold-faced throughout.

Even if Xiao Cui kowtowed until her head was bloody, it couldn’t make up for even a bit of the suffering she had endured these three years.

But Qiao Nian still called for her to stop.

“Enough, you look like I’m the one bullying you now.”

Xiao Cui finally stopped kowtowing, but she was still sobbing, “This servant wouldn’t dare. This servant knows everything was this servant’s fault. This servant accepts punishment! But this servant’s injuries haven’t healed yet. Please, First Young Miss, wait a few more days. When this servant’s injuries are healed, the First Young Miss can do as she wishes!”

As Xiao Cui spoke, she didn’t forget to roll up her sleeves.

There were indeed still injuries on her arms, and they weren’t even bandaged. If the maids of Fanghe Court hadn’t already grown accustomed to such sights, they might have been startled by the bloody mess on her arms.

For a moment, several maids looked at her with sympathetic expressions.

But Ning Shuang coldly snapped, “What are these little injuries compared to the scars all over my miss’s body that you caused?”

As her words fell, someone whispered, “But Sister Xiao Cui didn’t mean to…”

“Yes, Sister Xiao Cui has already admitted her mistake…”

The low murmurs were clearly heard by both Qiao Nian and Xiao Cui.

A glint flashed in Xiao Cui’s eyes, but she continued to sob, appearing even more pitiful.

This level of acting skill must have been learned from Lin Yuan!

Qiao Nian inwardly laughed coldly, but her face didn’t show it. She only said, “I didn’t realize your injuries were so severe. I thought you’d healed long ago like Ning Shuang! Sigh…”

As she spoke, she showed a troubled expression, “To speak of the events from three years ago, it really shouldn’t all be blamed on a maid like you…”

Hearing this, a hint of joy even appeared in Xiao Cui’s eyes.

Then Qiao Nian continued, “How about this, you stay in Fanghe Court to recover for the next few days! I have some medicine from Medicine King Valley that works quite well for injuries.”

Hearing this, Xiao Cui hurriedly kowtowed in thanks.

Qiao Nian waved her hand, having someone help Xiao Cui withdraw.

Only Ning Shuang looked unsatisfied. After Xiao Cui left, she angrily stomped her foot, “Miss! How could you let her off like this? She’s clearly…”

“Shh.” Qiao Nian interrupted Ning Shuang, looking at her with smiling eyes and a mischievous curve to her lips, “I know what I’m doing.”