MTLNOVEL Chapter 84: The Bandits of Yongbei
Chapter 84: Bandits of Yongbei
Everyone was shocked.
Xiao Heng was the first to react, frowning as he asked in a deep voice, “When did this happen?”
Madam Lin still had tears on her eyelashes as she shook her head, “The news just came from the palace. It’s said to be the bandits from Hezhou County!”
Hezhou County?
Lin Ye asked in surprise, “Hezhou County is more than ten days’ journey from the capital. Moreover, Prince Ming left for Medicine King Valley this morning, which is southbound. How did he encounter bandits from Hezhou County in Yongbei?”
Those are no ordinary bandits!
Hearing this, Qiao Nian’s heart suddenly skipped a beat, “Prince Ming went to Medicine King Valley? With the wedding so close, what is he doing there?”
Medicine King Valley is close to the border, but it’s over a month’s journey from the capital. Even if Prince Ming rode at full speed, it would take a full two months to go there and back.
But the Emperor had already set a final deadline – Prince Ming had to leave for Gucheng within two months!
Hearing Qiao Nian’s question, Lin Ye stammered, unable to speak.
His reaction was strange not only to Qiao Nian but also to Madam Lin.
She immediately pulled Lin Ye closer and asked in a stern voice, “Ye’er, tell your mother the truth. Does Prince Ming’s departure have anything to do with you?”
Of course it did.
He was the one who told Prince Ming that Medicine King Valley could regrow severed limbs!
But how could he have imagined that Prince Ming would be captured by those bandits from Yongbei?
Seeing that Lin Ye couldn’t speak, Madam Lin became furious and started hitting him repeatedly, “Why do you always cause trouble? If anything happens to Prince Ming, you’ll have to accompany him to the grave, do you understand?”
Lin Ye, of course, knew this. He hung his head without saying a word, allowing Madam Lin to hit and scold him.
Qiao Nian finally understood, “So, you deliberately sent Prince Ming away just to give me to Xiao He?”
Lin Ye still didn’t speak, not even daring to look at Qiao Nian.
Then Xiao Heng said, “Now is not the time to discuss this. Let’s go to the palace first to inquire about the situation.”
As he spoke, his gaze fell on Qiao Nian.
He wanted to tell her that today’s events were a misunderstanding. His original plan would have damaged her reputation, but it would never have caused her any real harm.
When she eventually married into the Xiao family, he had ways to suppress those rumors. With her status as the eldest daughter-in-law of the Xiao family, she could live a worry-free life.
But…
Seeing Qiao Nian’s cold and distant expression, he kept these words to himself.
He ultimately said nothing and turned to leave.
Lin Ye followed him.
Seeing her son so useless, Madam Lin cried so hard she nearly fainted.
Lin Yuan supported Madam Lin, gently consoling her, “Mother, don’t worry. Prince Ming will be fine.”
As she spoke, she glanced at Xiao Heng’s retreating figure, feeling uneasy.
Although she knew something significant had happened to Qiao Nian today, the way Xiao Heng had been staring at Qiao Nian earlier made her feel uncomfortable and upset.
Could it be that Brother Heng was feeling sympathetic towards her sister because of the humiliation she suffered today?
If so, if he found out that she had personally given her sister the drugged wine, would Brother Heng hate her?
Would he… refuse to marry her?
She felt panicked and couldn’t help but steal another glance at Qiao Nian.
To her surprise, Qiao Nian was staring at her intently.
Startled, she hid behind Madam Lin like a guilty thief.
Madam Lin also noticed Qiao Nian’s expression. Recalling Qiao Nian’s earlier words, her heart ached. She took a breath before speaking, “Nian Nian, I know you misunderstand me. I’m willing to explain…”
“Another day!” Qiao Nian interrupted in a deep voice, finally taking her gaze off Lin Yuan. “I’m tired today and don’t want to say much. We’ll talk properly another day.”
She emphasized the last four words, making Lin Yuan tremble to her core.
So she tugged at Madam Lin’s sleeve, “Mother, since sister is tired, let’s go back! Let sister rest well.”
And calm down.
She feared that if Madam Lin stayed any longer, Qiao Nian would expose her deed of giving her the drugged wine!
Although Madam Lin would find out about this sooner or later, it couldn’t be now.
At least, it should wait until her brother was present…
Madam Lin, of course, didn’t know Lin Yuan’s thoughts, but seeing Qiao Nian’s flushed cheeks, she thought it must be due to anger at Lin Ye.
Since Qiao Nian was angry, it indeed wasn’t a good time to talk. Moreover, she was also upset with Lin Ye, making her chest hurt. So she could only nod and say, “Well, Nian Nian, rest well. I’ll… come to see you in a couple of days.”
With that, Madam Lin started to leave with Lin Yuan.
However, before they had taken more than a few steps, they heard Qiao Nian’s cold voice from behind, “Go bring Xiao Cui here.”
She said “bring,” not “send.”
Lin Yuan’s body visibly stiffened, her heart feeling as if it had been violently struck.
She knew Qiao Nian had said this intentionally for her to hear.
On any other day, she would have stayed behind without hesitation to plead for Xiao Cui, taking the blame upon herself.
But today…
Lin Yuan bit her lower lip, ultimately not stopping.
She couldn’t stay. She couldn’t let Madam Lin know what she had done. She couldn’t disappoint her parents…
But what she didn’t know was that Xiao Cui had already been brought out and was kneeling at Qiao Nian’s feet, watching her leave without looking back.
Only after Lin Yuan had crossed the stone bridge did Qiao Nian smirk and say, “What to do? It seems your young miss doesn’t want you anymore.”
That single sentence brought Xiao Cui back to her senses.
She threw herself at Qiao Nian’s legs, crying loudly, “Sister, I’m your only blood relative in this world. Please forgive me just this once, will you?”
“Get lost! My young miss doesn’t have a sister like you!” Ning Shuang was merciless, kicking Xiao Cui to the ground.
She was furious today too.
Not wanting to disturb the Old Madam, she had only asked Nanny Su to come over. Who would have thought that upon returning, she’d find that the maid outside the door had been sent away by Xiao Cui, who claimed to be her young miss’s sister.
And her young miss had disappeared.
Fortunately, the young miss had returned safely in the end. Otherwise, she would have torn Xiao Cui to shreds!
However, after being kicked away, Xiao Cui crawled back, crying and approaching Qiao Nian, “Sister, I’m sorry, sister. It was the young marquis who told me to… I didn’t dare disobey his orders!”
Seeing that the snot and tears were about to get on her dress, Qiao Nian stepped back in disgust, “Lock her in a room. Without my permission, she’s not allowed to leave!”
“Yes!” Ning Shuang responded, immediately ordering people to drag Xiao Cui away.
Seeing Qiao Nian enter the room, Ning Shuang followed, but she was a bit unsatisfied, “Young Miss, are you just going to let Xiao Cui off like this?”
Just house arrest?
However, Qiao Nian’s voice suddenly began to tremble, “Close the door.”
Ning Shuang was startled and quickly turned to close the door.
When she turned back, she saw Qiao Nian leaning on a nearby table, slowly collapsing to the ground.