After three years of slavery, the entire mansion begged me for forgiveness

Qiao Nian's body froze, and her heart, which she thought had long since stopped feeling, still skipped two beats because of the familiar voice.

She slowly raised her eyes and looked at the man in the carriage.

It was the young general who had sealed the wolf and her former fiancé, Xiao Heng.

She knelt down almost subconsciously, "This servant greets General Xiao."

Xiao Heng's brows twisted slightly, his eyes glanced at her ankles, and asked in a cold voice, "Miss Lin, are you going back home?"

Qiao Nian lowered her eyes and stared at her knees, nodded, "Yes."

There was a long silence after the voice fell.

Xiao Heng was waiting for her to continue.

After all, she always had endless things to say in front of him.

He didn't like to be noisy, but considering the friendship between the two families, he would not blame her too much, but he would not hide his annoyance either.

Sometimes when he was really annoyed by the noise, he would take out a box of cakes to stop her mouth. Every time, she was as happy as a child, but that noisy mouth could only stop for half an incense stick at most.

I didn't expect that after not seeing each other for three years, she only responded with a short word.

Xiao Heng got off the carriage, but did not go forward to help her. He just said coldly, "I just happened to go to the palace to report. Miss Lin can take my carriage back."

Qiao Nian subconsciously wanted to refuse, but as soon as she opened her mouth, his cold voice sounded again, "Don't hold on if you are injured. Miss Lin should think about Madam Lin even if she doesn't do it for herself."

His tone was full of majesty that could not be questioned.

Qiao Nian thought of the old lady who loved her the most, and thought that she must have been able to leave the laundry bureau because the old lady personally asked the queen. If she knew that she walked back with a sprained foot like this, the old lady would definitely be sad.

So she stopped refusing and responded softly, "Thank you, General Xiao."

After saying that, she stood up and walked towards the carriage.

When she passed by him, her figure inevitably stiffened.

Compared to three years ago, Xiao Heng was much taller and stronger.

I heard that he had just won a victory some time ago, and his body seemed to be still stained with the breathtaking murderous aura of the battlefield, so that when she just passed by him, her heart would twitch for no reason.

She had loved Xiao Heng very passionately, even though he had never responded.

At that time, she felt that Xiao Heng was like a piece of ice, cold and indifferent to everyone, but as long as she was passionate enough, he would be melted by her sooner or later.

But later, when she saw Xiao Heng looking at Lin Yuan with a gentle and doting face, Qiao Nian just realized that many things in this world would not have results if she worked hard.

Some people are destined to get things that others can't get in their entire lives without any effort.

So, when she saw Xiao Heng protecting Lin Yuan and warning her with an extremely fierce look that day, she swallowed all the words she said to defend herself.

Parents, brother, and the person she loved most.

They all chose to stand by Lin Yuan, hoping that she could take the blame for Lin Yuan.

In fact, there was one thing Lin Ye said that was very right.

She had taken Lin Yuan's place for fifteen years of happiness, and the sins of these three years should be regarded as her paying back to Lin Yuan.

But was it wronged?

Of course it was wronged.

She obviously did nothing, but those who loved and protected her showed their weapons to her overnight.

How could she not feel wronged?

The temperature in the carriage was much warmer than outside, and there was a faint fragrance in the carriage, which was the aromatherapy that Xiao Heng usually used.

On the low table next to it was a hand warmer and a box of cakes.

Qiao Nian recognized it, it was the one that Lin Yuan liked to eat the most.

She remembered that soon after Lin Yuan came back, Madam Lin found her and tactfully asked her to return the engagement with Xiao Heng to Lin Yuan.

That was the engagement between the eldest daughter of the Lin family and the eldest son of the Xiao family, and it should have belonged to Lin Yuan.

But Qiao Nian was unwilling at that time, but although Madam Lin's tone was gentle, her attitude was very tough, so she had to agree.

Now three years have passed, and Xiao Heng and Lin Yuan are still not married?

A sour feeling spread in her heart, and Qiao Nian couldn't tell what kind of emotion it was, jealousy or unwillingness?

It doesn't matter, it will eventually turn into a sentence, "It doesn't matter."

Not long after, the carriage stopped outside the Marquis's Mansion.

Qiao Nian got off the carriage with the help of the coachman, and before she could stand firmly, an urgent and gentle voice came, "Niannian!"

It was Madam Lin, her former mother.

Qiao Nian turned around and saw Madam Lin walking quickly with the help of Lin Ye and Lin Yuan, and her open arms obviously wanted to embrace her.

Qiao Nian's heart sank, and she knelt down to pay her respects before Madam Lin could hold her. "I, the servant Qiao Nian, pay my respects to Madam."

Madam Lin's figure froze on the spot.

Today, Lin Ye and Xiao Heng called her "Lin Nian" and "Miss Lin". Perhaps they didn't know that on the third day after she was punished to go to the laundry department, the nanny told her that the Marquis had admitted in front of the emperor that she was not a girl from the Lin family, and her surname was Qiao.

She changed her name to Qiao Nian, and it has been a long time.

Madam Lin obviously knew about this, and tears fell all of a sudden, not knowing whether it was out of guilt or heartache.

She helped Qiao Nian up, caressed her face affectionately, and her gentle eyes were full of pity, "You've become thinner and darker."

The daughter she raised like a pearl and treasure, but she hadn't seen her for three years, and she was so pale and thin.

"Don't be sad, mother, it's good that my sister is back." A thin and soft voice sounded, it was Lin Yuan.

Compared to three years ago, Lin Yuan was whiter and rounder.

When she looked at Qiao Nian, her eyes were red and timid, full of guilt that she wanted to say but couldn't.

It was exactly the same as three years ago.

Qiao Nian pretended not to see it and lowered her eyes.

Mrs. Lin was relieved, "Yes, it's good that you're back, it's good that you're back." While speaking, she glanced at the carriage beside her.

She recognized it at a glance as the Xiao family's.

Thinking of Lin Ye's angry look when he returned home just now, Mrs. Lin's heart twisted, glared at Lin Ye, and then took Qiao Nian's hand and comforted him, "Your brother is a bastard, mother has already taught him a lesson for you, don't worry, mother will never let you suffer any grievances in the future!"

There were tears in her eyes, and she was really distressed.

But Lin Nian suddenly withdrew his hand.

This action made Lin Ye, who was already angry, couldn't help but shout, "Lin Nian, don't be ungrateful!"

Qiao Nian just raised her eyes and glanced at Lin Ye, still saying nothing.

Madam Lin shouted at Lin Ye, "Your sister just came back, why are you so mad at me!"

"Mother! Look at her attitude!" Lin Ye frowned and stared at Qiao Nian, "I told you a long time ago, if you don't want to come back, go back to your laundry department! The Marquis' Mansion has raised you for fifteen years and doesn't owe you anything. It's fine that you are being rude to me, but mother cries every day for you, why are you being mad at me!"

Miss temper?

Qiao Nian sighed inwardly.

She is no longer a lady, how can she have a lady's temper?

Seeing that she didn't say anything, Madam Lin couldn't help but frown, but she still blamed Lin Ye, "Your sister is just not used to it for a while, don't blame her anymore!"

Madam Lin raised her hand to call the maid, and then said to Qiao Nian, "Your grandmother knew you were coming back today and has been waiting for you. Go back to Fanghe Garden and wash up before going to see your grandmother. From now on, you will still be the eldest lady of my mansion. Don't worry, nothing will change."

Qiao Nian nodded and bowed to Madam Lin, but she just felt ridiculous in her heart.

Nothing will change, but she will never live in the courtyard before.