Seeking Justice from the Lin Family

Everything happened so fast.

No one could have anticipated that Ning Shuang would dare to do such a thing.

Before Lin Ye and the others could react, Lin Yuan let out a cry of pain, "Ah!"

Her hands, which had been tightly holding Qiao Nian's arm, finally let go due to the pain.

Lin Yuan's maid, Xiaocui, rushed over, lifting Lin Yuan's sleeve to reveal clear, small tooth marks on her pale arm.

Even through several layers of clothing, the bite was deep enough to leave such marks, showing how fiercely Ning Shuang had bitten.

If it weren't for the cool weather, she might have torn out flesh.

Xiaocui immediately shrieked, charging at Ning Shuang, "How dare you hurt my Miss, I'll fight you!"

Qiao Nian watched as Xiaocui confronted Ning Shuang, only to be grabbed by the hair and dragged aside by Ning Shuang to brawl.

Seeing Ning Shuang straddling Xiaocui to beat her, Qiao Nian said nothing.

But how could Lin Yuan bear to see her maid bullied?

She burst into tears, "Stop it! Stop it! Brother! Brother Heng, help Xiaocui! She's going to be beaten to death! Waaah..."

Lin Ye, with his brows furrowed, coldly commanded, "Stop this!"

Only after his low roar did Ning Shuang stand up from Xiaocui, smoothing her disheveled hair with a proud tilt of her chin as she returned to Qiao Nian's side.

Meanwhile, Xiaocui sat on the ground, crying, "Waaah, you bit my Miss and then beat me! Waaah, Young Marquis must seek justice for my Miss! Waaah..."

"Xiaocui! Waaah..." Lin Yuan rushed to Xiaocui, embracing her tightly.

The two cried together, a pitiable sight.

Whether by design or not, Lin Yuan's sleeve remained rolled up, making the small tooth marks on her arm starkly visible.

Lin Ye, perhaps never having seen Lin Yuan cry so pitifully, immediately shouted at Ning Shuang, "You brazen wretch, how dare you commit such an outrage in front of me! Someone! Drag her away and give her thirty lashes!"

At his command, several servants immediately seized Ning Shuang, one on each side.

Seeing Ning Shuang about to be taken away, Qiao Nian quickly blocked their path, her eyes locked on Lin Ye, "By what right do you punish my maid?"

Seeing Qiao Nian so protective of Ning Shuang, a flame of anger inexplicably ignited in Lin Ye's heart.

They were her family, yet she treated them like enemies, while fiercely defending a mere servant!

How hateful!

He barked angrily, "She injured Yuan, she must be punished!"

Qiao Nian stood her ground, raising her voice, "Is punishment due because someone was injured, or only because your Yuan was injured?"

She deliberately emphasized 'your Yuan'.

This made the surrounding servants and maids look at Lin Ye.

As the Young Marquis, Lin Ye couldn't admit to favoritism, so he said, "Of course, punishment is due for injury! Qiao Nian, do not muddle the issue. Everyone saw Ning Shuang bite Yuan! Take her away! Beat her!"

With another command from Lin Ye, the servants dragged Ning Shuang away without hesitation.

Qiao Nian, injured, couldn't stop them, watching helplessly as Ning Shuang was taken away.

Her eyes reddened with frustration and anger, tears swirling but not falling.

She glared fiercely at Lin Ye, "Fine, since the Young Marquis insists on this, today, I will also seek justice from your Lin family!"

With that, she turned and headed toward the Lin family's ancestral hall.

The matter escalating to this level in front of their ancestors was enough to make not just Lin Ye but even the servants and maids realize this was no small affair.

Seeing Qiao Nian intent on blowing the matter up, Lin Ye chased after her, "Qiao Nian, I came here with good intentions to help you, don't be ungrateful!"

Qiao Nian ignored him, her face cold, striding forward.

However, her injuries made her steps unsteady.

Lin Ye noticed this and lowered his voice, "You're not well; let me have someone help you back to rest."

He gestured to some servants to assist, but before they could touch Qiao Nian, she rebuked them, "I am to be the future Princess Consort! Who dares to touch me!"

Though not a particularly powerful position, the title of Princess Consort could easily decide the fate of a few servants.

Thus, no one dared to approach her.

But these words thoroughly enraged Lin Ye.

He grabbed Qiao Nian's arm, tighter than Lin Yuan had, "You still want to marry Prince Ming? Have you lost your mind?"

"Let go!" Qiao Nian, ignoring the pain in her arm, fiercely pulled her hand back, "Whether I've lost my mind or not is none of your business! You only need to know, the Lin family owes me an explanation today!"

With that, she continued towards the ancestral hall.

Lin Ye wanted to stop her but paused when he felt something wet in his hand.

Looking down, he saw a stark red stain in his palm...

Word of Qiao Nian's visit to the ancestral hall quickly reached the Marquis and Lady Lin.

When they arrived, they found Qiao Nian standing in the center of the hall.

Outside, a crowd of servants gathered, while inside, Qiao Nian stood with the Lin siblings.

"What's going on?" The Marquis glared angrily, clearly displeased with Qiao Nian for disturbing their ancestors.

Lin Yuan, crying, approached the Marquis, gently holding his arm, whispering, "Father, don't be angry. It's all my fault, I shouldn't have meddled, asking Sister to forgive Brother..."

By the end, her tears were flowing.

The Marquis was heartbroken, but then Xiaocui started to complain, "How can you blame Miss? It was the Eldest Miss's maid who bit Miss's arm. When the Young Marquis punished that maid, the Eldest Miss brought the matter here!"

Hearing Lin Yuan was injured, Lady Lin rushed over, "She was bitten? Where? Let me see!"

Lady Lin lifted Lin Yuan's arm, but by then, an incense stick's time had passed, and the bite marks had faded.

Lin Yuan comforted her, "Mother, I'm fine..."

But Lin Ye spoke up coldly, "Ning Shuang bit Yuan, it's a fact everyone witnessed. My punishment was justified!"

Hearing this, Lady Lin's heart skipped a beat; she turned to Qiao Nian, speaking cautiously, "Nian, if your maid truly bit Yuan, then your brother punishing her is reasonable. There's no need to escalate things this far!"