It was already afternoon when Qiao Nian returned to Fanghe Garden.

After she entered her room, she lay down weakly on the soft couch beside her, her mind filled with the last words Princess Shu Yuan said to her.

Only then did she realize that Lin Yuan had been so well protected by the Hou Mansion in the past three years.

It turned out that when she was bullied by the maids from the Clothes Bureau, the Lin family was not even willing to let Lin Yuan step through the palace gate!

It was as if her being sent to the clothing bureau had become a wake-up call for the Hou family. They were afraid that someone or something in the palace would have any connection with Lin Yuan.

That's why they ignored her for three whole years...

What's funny is that just a few days after she was taken back to the Marquis Mansion, Mrs. Lin couldn't wait to take her to the palace that they had regarded as a scourge for the past three years...

Thinking of this, Qiao Nian couldn't help but laugh softly, the laughter was bitter and astringent.

She can actually bear it. After those three years of indifference, she has long recognized her position in the Hou Mansion.

But the only thing that makes people uncomfortable is the word comparison.

The whole Lin family treated her very differently from Lin Yuan. It was also a sharp contrast between the past fifteen years and now.

It's not like she hasn't felt the love of her parents and the pampering of her father and brother.

She was once held in their hands and treasured.

She has the best family in the world and has seen the brightest sunshine in the world.

That's why she feels so uncomfortable when she is lying in this extremely cold darkness without seeing the light of day...

The warm sun that originally belonged to her now shone on Lin Yuan's body.

Are you willing?

Naturally, he is unwilling to do so.

But what can she do?

She is just an outsider...

Just as she was thinking about it, Ningshuang suddenly opened the door and walked in. When she saw Qiao Nian, Ningshuang shouted happily, "Miss is back!"

Perhaps infected by Ningshuang's joy, Qiao Nian's body seemed to have regained some strength and she sat up.

But he saw that Ningshuang was holding a box of cakes in her hands.

Qiao Nian couldn't help but frown slightly, "Didn't I ask you to share it yesterday?"

"It's divided!" Ningshuang shook the pastry in her hand, "This was just delivered."

Hearing this, Qiao Nian couldn't help but stand up and walk towards Ningshuang, "Did it come from Deputy General Jing?"

Ningshuang nodded, "Yes! Miss, do you want to eat?"

Qiao Nian shook his head, "I don't want to eat it, but...he already sent pastries yesterday, why did he send them again today?"

How could Ningshuang know what Jing Yan was thinking?

She unpacked the package, picked up a piece and put it in her mouth, but then she seemed to suddenly think of something and said, "Miss, do you think Vice President Jing is ordering you?"

Qiao Nian was stunned and didn't understand what Ningshuang meant.

Just listen to Ningshuang say, "Think about it! Vice General Jing has saved you several times, why should we treat him to a drink! He must have bought something to eat to remind you because he saw your delay in responding. Woolen cloth!"

Qiao Nian looked at Ningshuang helplessly, "If you really want to remind me, you don't have to buy these pastries. This box is enough for you to earn ten days' wages!"

Ningshuang's bulging little mouth stopped instantly.

She lowered her head and looked at the pastry in her hand, and felt that what Qiao Nian said made sense, "Vice General Jing's salary must be more than mine, but he can't bear to buy such expensive pastries every day! Then why does he? It’s obvious that the lady doesn’t like eating it!”

Qiao Nian shook her head, but she thought that she did owe Jing Yan a drink. After the matter with Prince Ming was over, she would find time to treat him to the drink.

On the day of King Ming's funeral, Qiao Nian did not support him. After all, since she agreed to Duke Shu Yuan to handle the matter, she was considered to be the princess's wife. With the princess coming forward, she would naturally not need to divorce the emperor's words.

However, I still had to see him off.

She was dressed in plain clothes and followed the funeral procession. Along the way, she attracted many people's comments.

Just to see you off, you are already being pointed at like this. If you wear sackcloth, show mourning and support the spirit...

Qiao Nian really didn't dare to think about it.

It wasn't until the funeral procession was sent out of the city that Qiao Nian turned around and walked back.

People on the street would still look at her sideways, but fortunately Qiao Nian's mood was not affected by this.

Even somewhat relieved.

At least, she could breathe a sigh of relief regarding Prince Ming.

Just as I was thinking about it, a voice came, "Miss Qiao."

Qiao Nian followed the sound and saw that it was Jing Yan.

She immediately smiled back and bowed to Jing Yan, who was walking towards her, and said, "I've met Lieutenant General Jing."

Jing Yan hurriedly returned the gift, "Miss Qiao, you don't have to be so polite."

This hand-over also made Qiao Nian see the cake in his hand, "Is this for me?"

Jing Yan curled his lips and smiled, a bit shy.

He brought the cake to Qiao Nian with both hands.

Qiao Nian reached out to take it and said, "Thank you, Lieutenant General Jing, but...why do you have to give this to me for several days in a row?"

She really couldn't understand.

But Jing Yan scratched his head in embarrassment, "I just think that Miss Qiao must be upset these days. Maybe eating some of her favorite foods can ease her mood."

Qiao Nian was slightly stunned. She didn't expect Jing Yan's purpose to be so simple.

Just to make her feel better?

Seeing the honest and honest look of the person in front of her, Qiao Nian's heart warmed slightly, but she still said, "Thank you, Lieutenant General Jing, but... I don't like eating cakes, so I'd better not give them to you in the future."

Hearing this, Jing Yan couldn't help but be stunned, looking quite surprised, "Don't like it? But the general clearly..."

The general clearly said that Qiao Nian’s favorite food is the pastries sold in this store!

But looking at Qiao Nian's confused look, Jing Yan still shook his head, "No, it's nothing. Then, I wonder what Miss Qiao likes to eat?"

Qiao Nian chuckled, "For all the kindness that Deputy General Jing has saved me several times, I should have invited him to drink. How can I get Deputy General Jing to buy me food?"

"I just want you to have a good time."

Jing Yan's deep voice came slowly. It was obviously a very heart-warming sentence, but for some reason, the tip of Qiao Nian's nose couldn't help but feel sore.

She thought about how miserable her life must be to make someone who has little contact with her want to make her happy.

Her eyes were slightly hot, but the corners of her mouth curled up unconsciously, "I like to eat pig intestines."

Obviously, Jing Yan didn't expect this answer, and was stunned on the spot, "Pig, pig intestines?"

A wealthy lady actually likes to eat such dirty things!

However, Qiao Nian nodded seriously, "Well, when we were in the clothes bureau, a maid asked for a bowl from the imperial kitchen. It was delicious!"

I heard that the chef in the imperial dining room cooked the food for me. The maid shamelessly asked for a bowl, and it was already cold when she brought it back to the laundry department.

When the maids were fighting for food, she secretly picked up a piece from the ground and ate it. The salty taste still makes her drool when she thinks about it.

Jing Yan saw Qiao Nian's throat rolling twice. It was obvious that she was not lying.

So, I couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Okay, next time I'll treat Miss Qiao to pig intestines!"

"Seriously?" Qiao Nian was quite surprised, "But no restaurant should be able to sell this thing, right?"

"Jing's cooking skills are pretty good." The implication is that he can cook it himself.

Qiao Nian suddenly showed admiration, "I didn't expect Deputy General Jing to be so powerful...remember to wash up!"

That thing is not clean but it smells!

Hearing this, Jing Yan nodded heavily and watched as the smile on Qiao Nian's face became brighter and brighter. A flower seemed to bloom somewhere in his heart...

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