Will You Still Marry?

For a moment, she wasn't sure whether to step inside.

But then, Mama Su appeared behind her, "Eldest Miss?"

Her voice was filled with joy.

"You've recovered? Are you here to see the old lady?" Mama Su said, leading Qiao Nian inside, "Wonderful! The old lady has been mentioning you daily!"

Reluctantly, Qiao Nian could only brace herself to follow.

Upon entering, she caught sight of several figures out of the corner of her eye.

They were all here.

What bad luck!

Her heart sank, but she showed no change in expression, moving forward to bow to the old lady seated at the head, "Nian comes to pay her respects to Grandmother."

"Come, come!" The old lady beckoned eagerly.

Qiao Nian approached, sitting beside her grandmother, who then scrutinized her closely, her expression soon clouding with concern, "Why are you so thin? They said you were ill; was it very serious?"

Qiao Nian quickly shook her head, "Just a slight chill, no appetite for food. I was worried about passing the illness to you, which is why I haven't come to greet you. Please don't blame me, Grandmother!"

"How could I!" The old lady gripped Qiao Nian's hand tightly, "I'm so happy you came to see me!"

Qiao Nian's eyes filled with warmth; her heart was always at ease with her grandmother.

But then, a jarring voice spoke up, "Yes, Sister, Brother and I come every day to keep Grandmother company, but she only thinks of you! Grandmother is so biased, Yuan is getting jealous!"

Qiao Nian's face visibly darkened.

The old lady, oblivious to the tension, thought it was just playful banter, saying, "I'm not biased, I just love Nian a bit more."

Noticing Qiao Nian's strained smile, she understood.

She patted Qiao Nian's hand, "Are you feeling uncomfortable? Why don't you go back and rest?"

She guessed Qiao Nian didn't want to see Lin Yuan.

Taking the opportunity to leave, Qiao Nian nodded, "Then Nian will come to see Grandmother again tomorrow."

"Good," the old lady responded softly.

Qiao Nian rose, bowed, and then left without sparing a glance at the others.

Once outside, she let out a long sigh, reassuring herself that her back hurt too much today to stay longer, promising to spend more time with her grandmother the next day when she felt better.

With that thought, her mood lightened a bit.

She walked slowly back to Fragrant Lotus Garden with Ning Shuang.

But perhaps they were walking too slowly, for they were intercepted before even reaching the garden's gate.

"Sister!"

Hearing that voice, Qiao Nian closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to suppress the instinctive anger rising within her.

She turned around, her gaze icy as she watched the three approach.

"Is Sister's injury much better?" Lin Yuan asked with a bright, innocent smile, as if Qiao Nian had only suffered minor scrapes, not nearly been beaten to death.

Ning Shuang, standing beside Qiao Nian, glared at Lin Yuan, "Miss only went to see the old lady because she was worried she'd be concerned! This morning, when I applied the medicine, the wounds were still bleeding!"

Hearing this, Lin Yuan's expression changed, "I'm sorry, Sister, I... I didn't know..."

Qiao Nian ignored Lin Yuan's pitiful look, asking coldly, "Do you have business with me?"

Her tone was exceptionally distant.

Xiao Heng's eyes darkened, his gaze fixed on the thin layer of sweat on Qiao Nian's forehead, his voice chilling, "We need to discuss your marriage."

Her marriage?

Qiao Nian was surprised, looking at Xiao Heng, "How does my marriage concern General Xiao?"

Lin Yuan immediately objected, "Sister, Brother Heng is worried about you. You shouldn't be so cold-hearted, okay?"

Her voice was as soft and small as ever, seemingly wanting to scold Qiao Nian yet not daring to.

As if... she feared Qiao Nian but wanted to defend Xiao Heng even more.

How laughable.

Qiao Nian gave her a dismissive glance before turning back to Xiao Heng, "Thank you for your concern, General Xiao, but my marriage has nothing to do with you. If you're really that idle, you should focus on your own wedding preparations!"

Her words made Xiao Heng's eyes grow even darker.

Then Lin Ye spoke up, "You wouldn't still want to marry Prince Ming, would you?"

Qiao Nian didn't look at him, nor did she answer.

Her silence was taken as confirmation by Lin Ye.

His voice rose, "Are you out of your mind? After what he did to you! Do you want to die?"

Only then did Qiao Nian look at Lin Ye, her eyes cold as if regarding a stranger, "Is the Young Marquis only now concerned about my life? Isn't it a bit late?"

Where was this concern when she was first to be married off to Prince Ming?

If he had told her about the West City back then, she wouldn't have been beaten nearly to death!

Her words left Lin Ye breathless, as if he'd been struck.

Normally, he might have lashed out at her, but today, considering her injuries, he only clenched his fists tightly, suppressing his anger.

He asked, "I'll ask you one thing, do you still want to marry Prince Ming?"

Though their parents opposed it and there was the Emperor's decree, he had ways to break off the engagement!

But he needed Qiao Nian's cooperation.

That's why he intercepted her today!

However, Qiao Nian scoffed, "Aren't the Marquis and Lady Lin against annulling the engagement? What, has the Young Marquis taken command of the household now?"

"That's not your concern!" Lin Ye, frustrated by her question, his voice tinged with anger, "Just answer, do you still want to marry!"

"Whether I want to marry or not is none of the Young Marquis's business." Qiao Nian's voice was cold, each word striking Lin Ye's heart like a hammer, "Since you didn't care about my life before, don't try to make amends now. Keep your cheap guilt and sympathy; I don't need them."

With that, Qiao Nian turned to leave.

But Lin Yuan suddenly grabbed her arm, "Sister! Don't be so stubborn, listen to what Brother has to say, please? He's truly doing this for you, he's planned so much!"

"Let go!" Qiao Nian hissed in pain.

Her arm was also injured.

Being grabbed like this hurt intensely.

Ning Shuang quickly intervened, trying to free Qiao Nian's arm, "Second Miss, what are you doing! Let go of my Miss!"

But Lin Yuan didn't release her grip; instead, she shook Qiao Nian's arm like a petulant child, "Sister, Brother really cares for you! If you're angry or resentful, take it out on me, but don't be so harsh to him..."

The movement exacerbated the pain in Qiao Nian's back, yet she lacked the strength to shake off Lin Yuan's grasp. Even a slight pull felt like her back would tear apart.

Ning Shuang couldn't pry Lin Yuan's hands off, and seeing Qiao Nian's injuries about to worsen, she bit down on Lin Yuan's arm in desperation!