NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 87: Exchanging for Prince Ming's Wife
Chapter 87: Exchanging for Prince Ming’s Wife
From beginning to end, Qiao Nian didn’t say a word.
She could understand that with Prince Ming’s life hanging in the balance, Noble Consort De, as a mother, would naturally have an emotional breakdown and misdirect her anger at others.
Moreover, she was a noble consort after all!
People in such high positions naturally didn’t value the lives of ordinary people.
In their eyes, her life wasn’t even considered a life.
Prince Ming had beaten her half to death, and so what if he had beaten her to death? Who told her to be of lowly birth, to have a worthless life?
Hah!
Qiao Nian knelt in place, her expression unchanged, but her eyes, fixed on her skirt, were surging with indescribable emotions.
But why was her life considered worthless?
Why did those women who died from Prince Ming’s abuse just die without consequence?
For a moment, the anger within Qiao Nian reached its peak.
She thought, it would be better if those bandits just gutted Prince Ming!
But as Noble Consort De’s crying gradually subsided, Qiao Nian’s anger also calmed a little.
Her reason told her that Prince Ming couldn’t die.
Prince Ming was currently her only quickest way to leave the prince’s mansion.
Thinking of this, Qiao Nian’s hand at her side involuntarily clenched into a fist.
Chu Qi, you absolutely cannot die.
Even if you have to die, you must marry me first!
Qiao Nian didn’t know how long she had been kneeling, only that her shadow had slowly moved from the west to the east, and Noble Consort De had cried several times, now resting on a nearby couch.
Then a palace maid came in, bowed to Noble Consort De, and said, “Reporting to Your Highness, General Xiao and Young Marquis Lin request an audience.”
Hearing these two names, Qiao Nian’s brows unconsciously furrowed.
On the couch, Noble Consort De propped herself up, her swollen eyes from crying looking at Qiao Nian, unable to suppress a cold laugh, “Huh, you’re quite capable! Qi’er isn’t even dead yet, and two men are already rushing to protect you!”
After scolding, she glared at the palace maid, “Get out, I won’t see them!”
However, the palace maid looked troubled and stammered, “But, but General Xiao said it concerns Prince Ming.”
Hearing this, Noble Consort De seemed to come alive, quickly getting off the couch, “Quick, invite them in!”
The palace maid acknowledged and retreated. Soon after, two tall figures entered the room one after another.
When they saw Qiao Nian kneeling to the side, Xiao Heng and Lin Ye showed no expression.
After all, they had rushed over after hearing that Qiao Nian was being blamed by Noble Consort De.
Qiao Nian didn’t look at them either. Even though their shadows entered her field of vision, she averted her eyes, afraid of sullying her gaze.
The two men stepped forward and bowed, “Your humble servants pay respects to Noble Consort.”
Noble Consort De hurriedly waved her hand, “No need for formalities. You said you have news of Qi’er? How is it, has Qi’er returned?”
Xiao Heng shook his head slightly.
Seeing the disappointment on Noble Consort De’s face, he then spoke, “But the bandits just sent a letter to the Prefecture, in Prince Ming’s handwriting. I’ve checked it, the ink seems to be from half an hour ago.”
This meant that at least half an hour ago, Prince Ming was still alive.
But hearing Xiao Heng’s words, not only did Noble Consort De not feel comforted at all, she started crying again, her whole person seeming a bit lost.
“Those bandits dare to reveal themselves, even sending a letter to the Prefecture so brazenly. It’s clear they’re not simple. But why didn’t they stay in Yongbei? Why did they kidnap my Qi’er? What do they want?”
Noble Consort De hoped to get answers from Xiao Heng and Lin Ye.
She thought, since they were bandits, they should be after money.
She still had quite a few properties under her name, and could even ask her maiden family for some. As long as her Qi’er could return safely!
But Xiao Heng’s answer made Noble Consort De completely lose the strength to carry on.
Xiao Heng’s indifferent voice said, “They want official approval to permanently settle in Hezhou instead of living in the mountains.”
They wanted to gain official recognition, to openly occupy the mountains as their domain and rob!
This was the confidence given to them by the court’s repeated failures to suppress the bandits.
But how could that be possible?
Wouldn’t such a demand be equivalent to throwing the Emperor’s face on the ground and stepping on it?
Even if those bandits held Prince Ming’s life in their hands, the Emperor wouldn’t agree.
The Emperor… had too many sons…
Noble Consort De collapsed weakly to the ground, but the quick-witted palace maids beside her helped her to a chair.
Noble Consort De leaned back in the chair, already in tears, “What can be done? What will happen to my son?”
Was there really only death ahead?
Unexpectedly, Lin Ye suddenly spoke up, “Noble Consort need not be anxious. The Emperor has already dispatched General Xiao to lead troops. They will surely rescue Prince Ming.”
Hearing this, Noble Consort De only gave a weak, bitter smile, “Do you know where those bandits are?”
The bandits who kidnapped Prince Ming were clearly not the ones currently in Yongbei.
They had come from Yongbei, and after kidnapping Prince Ming, they must have hidden somewhere.
But no one knew exactly where they were hiding.
Hearing Noble Consort De’s bitter laugh, Lin Ye quickly said, “Your humble servant and General Xiao have come precisely for this matter.”
Hearing this, Noble Consort De was stunned and looked at Lin Ye in confusion, “What do you mean?”
Then, Lin Ye turned his head to look at Qiao Nian.
Qiao Nian still maintained her downcast gaze, but she keenly sensed Lin Ye’s gaze, and her brows immediately furrowed tightly.
Lin Ye said, “Prince Ming’s letter says the bandits agree to exchange him for Prince Ming’s wife.”
Hearing this, Qiao Nian finally raised her eyes to look at Lin Ye.
She wanted to probe the depths of Lin Ye’s eyes, but Lin Ye didn’t dare to meet Qiao Nian’s gaze and quickly looked away.
As for Xiao Heng, he still hadn’t looked at Qiao Nian once.
A chill ran through Qiao Nian’s heart, freezing her so much that she couldn’t help but laugh.
Exchange for Prince Ming’s wife?
That meant they could use her to exchange for Prince Ming’s return?
Then, what about her?
As a lone woman, what good fate could await her if she fell into the hands of those bandits?
The Emperor was unwilling to save Prince Ming, so would he be willing to save her, this laughable Prince Ming’s wife?
Moreover, she and Prince Ming hadn’t even completed the marriage ceremony, so how could she be considered Prince Ming’s wife?
But Noble Consort De, as if grasping at a lifeline, suddenly lunged towards Qiao Nian, “Nian Nian, Nian Nian…”
She called out repeatedly, her voice choked with tears, all traces of her earlier fury when she threw the teacup at Qiao Nian gone.
Due to her lunging motion, Noble Consort De even ended up kneeling before Qiao Nian, “You’re a good child, you have the kindest heart. I beg you, I beg you to save Qi’er!”
With that, Noble Consort De actually started kowtowing to Qiao Nian.
The nearby palace maids hurriedly tried to stop her, while Qiao Nian frowned deeply.
She didn’t want to agree.
Her life was also a life, why should she use her life to exchange for Prince Ming’s?
But…
Since this matter had been spoken by Lin Ye, it was no longer something she could control.
Rather than waiting for the Emperor to issue an edict, being forcibly tied up and sent to those bandits, it was better to go along with it and earn this favor.
So, she reached out to support Noble Consort De, “Rest assured, Your Highness. I will definitely bring Prince Ming back safely.”