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

Chapter 80: Reconciliation Drink

Princess Shuyuan’s eyes were filled with intense malice.

But Qiao Nian wasn’t flustered at all.

She knelt down properly and bowed, “The Princess is traveling incognito. This commoner dares not presume to recognize you. Please forgive me, Princess.”

The implication was that Princess Shuyuan hadn’t revealed her identity first, so she didn’t dare to expose her rashly.

Princess Shuyuan looked down at her, her eyes full of contempt.

She didn’t mind Qiao Nian’s earlier act of not recognizing her, but she did mind being used. Her tone now carried a hint of coldness, “I thought three years in the laundry house would have taught you some manners.”

Instead of being afraid in her presence, Qiao Nian’s bow was neither servile nor arrogant.

It made her want to send Qiao Nian back to the laundry house for another three years!

Qiao Nian didn’t respond. She knew Princess Shuyuan disliked her, so the less said, the better.

Sure enough, Qiao Nian’s silence seemed to dissipate some of Princess Shuyuan’s anger.

She glanced at the large clothing shop and laughed coldly, “I didn’t expect Noble Consort De to be so generous, giving you this shop before you’re even married. But I suppose it’s appropriate, after all, her son… heh.”

She didn’t finish her sentence, instead letting out a mocking laugh.

Then she looked at Qiao Nian again, her eyes showing some confusion, “By the way, my royal brother rode out of the capital early this morning. Do you know where he went?”

Qiao Nian was stunned. She looked at Princess Shuyuan, somewhat bewildered.

Prince Ming had left the capital?

Seeing her reaction, Princess Shuyuan frowned again, “Forget it, I suppose you wouldn’t know.”

In her view, Qiao Nian was just an insignificant decoration.

If Prince Ming hadn’t become impotent, he would never have chosen Qiao Nian as his princess.

She snorted coldly, her gaze sweeping over the kneeling manager and clerks once more before leading her people out in large strides.

Only after the princess left did Qiao Nian stand up, her heart full of doubts.

With the wedding date approaching, why would Prince Ming choose to leave the capital at this time?

Could it be that he wanted to break off the engagement?

Although this possibility was extremely low, a vague sense of unease still tightly wrapped around Qiao Nian. She didn’t have the heart to check the shop’s accounts anymore and soon returned to the mansion with Ning Shuang.

Unexpectedly, her Fanghe Court was quite lively today.

“Sister is back!” Lin Yuan came out to greet Qiao Nian as soon as she saw her, her face full of smiles.

But that smile was much stiffer than her previous ones.

It even carried a deliberate sense of trying to please.

Was it for Xiao Cui?

Qiao Nian ignored her, avoiding her reaching hand, and her gaze fell on Lin Ye standing not far away.

She didn’t understand why Lin Ye was here.

Noticing Qiao Nian’s gaze, Lin Ye stood still but his face showed some discomfort, “You were recovering from your injuries during your birthday recently, so I couldn’t come to see you. Today I happen to be free, so I…”

Before Lin Ye could finish, Qiao Nian interrupted him, “My birthday is of no importance. There’s no need for the Young Marquis to remember it.”

Moreover, she didn’t think Lin Ye had come here specifically for her birthday.

Lin Ye’s already unpleasant expression visibly darkened.

But surprisingly, he showed no intention of arguing with Qiao Nian, nor did he leave. He just stood there.

Something unusual must be happening!

Lin Ye’s behavior made Qiao Nian curious about what he was trying to do.

So, she stepped towards the room.

But as soon as she entered, Qiao Nian was stunned.

The small round table in the hall was filled with delicacies.

Lin Yuan and Lin Ye followed her in.

Seeing Qiao Nian standing there stunned, Lin Yuan approached and said, “Brother had all this prepared. Do you like it, Sister?”

Qiao Nian didn’t know what to say.

The table full of delicacies before her were indeed all her favorites.

She could even tell at a glance which restaurant’s chef had made some of them.

Lin Ye must have visited no less than ten restaurants to gather this entire table of delicacies.

Just like in the previous fifteen years.

Lin Ye was always willing to spend a lot of time and effort for her.

If it were before, Qiao Nian thought, she would probably be overjoyed and touched right now.

If… those three years hadn’t happened…

Seeing that Qiao Nian still hadn’t spoken, Lin Yuan seemed to remember something and said, “Brother also prepared a gift for you, Sister!”

As she spoke, Lin Yuan urged Lin Ye to take out the gift.

Lin Ye seemed a bit embarrassed, somewhat awkwardly taking out a hairpin from his sleeve.

“I carved this myself. Don’t… don’t look down on it.”

Lin Ye said coldly, presenting the hairpin to Qiao Nian.

Qiao Nian looked at the not-so-exquisitely carved hairpin, her gaze falling on the few scars on Lin Ye’s fingers.

Lin Ye seemed to notice Qiao Nian’s gaze, and his heart inexplicably warmed.

He thought that she still cared about him as her brother.

So, he coughed lightly and then said, “They’re just small injuries, nothing serious. As long as you like this hairpin…”

“I don’t like it,” Qiao Nian interrupted Lin Ye, her expression very cold. “The Emperor and Noble Consort have bestowed many pieces of jewelry. I have more hairpins in my storage than I can wear. This one, you’d better give it to Miss Lin.”

Her cold rejection almost threw Lin Ye’s face on the ground and stomped on it twice.

But wasn’t this what Lin Ye came for, to let her throw away his face?

Three years ago, he had given the hairpin that was supposed to be hers to Lin Yuan. After three years, he carved another hairpin to give her. What was that supposed to mean?

Did she care about this messily carved wooden hairpin?

Or did he think he could “appease” her with a broken piece of wood, make her forget everything she had suffered over these years?

What did he take her for?

The anger in Lin Ye’s heart was instantly ignited, as if he was about to explode at Qiao Nian the next moment.

But surprisingly, Lin Ye didn’t say anything.

It was still Lin Yuan who tried to smooth things over, “Sister, although this wooden hairpin isn’t valuable, it’s Brother’s sincere gesture. Brother got so many injuries on his hands to carve this hairpin!”

Yes!

Qiao Nian believed that this wooden hairpin must have been stained with a lot of Lin Ye’s blood.

So… it felt even more disgusting!

She raised an eyebrow slightly and turned to look at Lin Yuan, “You’ve always liked wooden hairpins. It’s yours then.”

Hearing this, Lin Yuan was stunned, “But, this is what Brother gave to you, Sister. How could I take what belongs to you?”

“Haven’t you taken enough?” Qiao Nian replied faintly, then looked at Lin Ye, whose face was red with anger, “Why don’t you two just say what you’re really here for today?”

Lin Ye clenched his fists tightly, not speaking.

Lin Yuan, clearly unable to bear Qiao Nian’s rebuffs anymore, had tears in her eyes but still forced a smile and said gently, “Sister, we came especially today to reconcile with you. No matter what, we are all daughters of the Marquis’s family. After you’re married, the Marquis’s family will be your support. There’s really no need to make things so ugly now, don’t you think, Sister?”