Chapter 140: Xi’er, You Died So Tragically
“Please have Crown Prince make the decision for our Lin Family.” Lin Runkun kowtowed as if he had found his backbone.
Jiang family members looked unpleasant. Although they did not take Lin family members seriously, the person before them was indeed Crown Prince.
“Great Qin Dynasty does indeed have cases where husband’s family fails clan wife, and after clan wife dies, all dowry is returned to maternal home, but the premise is that those dowries were all provided by maternal home.” Wei Chang fiddled with the jade thumb ring in his hand. “But if I remember correctly, Madam Lin’s dowry does not seem to have been given by Jiang Family, right?”
Hearing this, the two Jiang brothers’ faces changed slightly.
Indeed, although Jiang Family had recognized Jiang Ruanxi back then, when she married, all the dowry was prepared by her adoptive father and adoptive mother, so Jiang Family had not given her any dowry.
Lin Ningkun became excited. “Crown Prince, please see clearly. My wife’s dowry indeed did not come from Jiang Family.”
“Oh, what’s going on here? Jiang Family keeps saying they came to seek justice for Second Miss Jiang. I thought Jiang Family treated her so well, but it turns out they didn’t even give her a dowry when she married. What kind of goodness is this?”
“I say, they just don’t want Madam Lin to rest in peace, so they came to make a fuss.”
“Sigh, even after death she can’t rest in peace. What a sin…”
“……”
Public opinion shifted instantly. Jiang Rui’s face was extremely unpleasant, while Jiang Linlei frowned slightly.
Jiang Family had originally gained the upper hand, but in just a few words, Wei Chang turned the situation around.
“Although Madam Lin’s dowry is not from Jiang Family, Jiang Family wanting to hold onto it is also unreasonable.” Wei Chang was not just targeting Jiang Family. “Madam Lin is after all a third-rank Madam. His Majesty sympathizes with her life of hardship and lack of peace even after death, so he specially sent me to take a look.”
Jiang family members looked guilty, but Wei Chang ignored it and waved his hand. “Come over.”
Soon, a young woman emerged from behind Crown Prince’s sedan chair.
That person looked at Jiang Ruanxi’s corpse and directly went over. “Xi’er, you died so miserably.”
“My poor child, from the moment you were born, you had no biological parents of your own. I originally thought that once your parents took you back, you could live well, but who would have thought that as soon as you went back, they married you off right after.
If husband treated you well, it would be fine, but you even lost your life at husband’s family. Heavens, if mother knew it would be like this when you came back, I would never have let you return no matter what.
Wuwuwu…
Xi’er, my poor Xi’er.”
With just a few words from the woman, everyone understood her identity.
This was Jiang Ruanxi’s adoptive mother, from the wealthy merchant Jiang Family in South Ridge.
Although they also bore the surname Jiang, they had no relation whatsoever to Yongyi Marquis Manor.
“Sigh, Madam Lin is so pitiful. Even the adoptive mother with no blood relation is like this, yet the blood-related family members do not properly bury her and instead scheme here.”
“Yes, I say, neither husband’s family nor maternal home has good intentions. Better than this adoptive mother with no blood relation.”
“…”
The commoners’ words were like the wind, blowing away the fig leaves of Jiang Family and Lin Family, and piercing into the ears of Jiang family members and Lin family members.
Lin clan members’ faces tightened, and Jiang family members’ faces darkened.
Wei Chang acted as if he saw nothing.
“In that case, Old Madam Jiang is the one most qualified to take Madam Lin’s dowry, and also the one most qualified to handle Madam Lin’s funeral affairs.”
Lin Ningkun’s heart jolted. “Crown Prince, Jiang Ruanxi is my wife. There is absolutely no reason to let others handle her funeral.”
“Is Old Madam Jiang an outsider?”
Lin Ningkun’s face turned guilty.
Wei Chang said sarcastically, “I am acting on His Majesty’s order to give Madam Lin peace. Since Lin Family cannot handle it properly, and Jiang Family does not conform to propriety, then let Old Madam Jiang take her back to manage. However, you are not wrong. Jiang Ruanxi is nominally Lin Family’s clan wife…”
Lin Ningkun’s eyes flickered with some hope, but Wei Chang’s words came like a steep cold wind. “Fortunately, His Majesty is wise and already knew Madam Lin’s situation, specially granting you divorce.”
Lin Ningkun’s eyes widened, his heart feeling gripped as he could hardly breathe, his voice rising several times. “Crown Prince, since Jiang Ruanxi has entered my Lin Family’s door, she is my wife for life. Alive she is Lin Family’s person, dead she is Lin Family’s ghost. I absolutely will not divorce my wife.”
Lin Ningkun’s resounding declaration of deep affection. Lin Ningkun thought Wei Chang would be moved by his deep feelings and not separate him from Jiang Ruanxi.
Wei Chang paused in fiddling with the jade thumb ring, his gaze turning cold and aloof and profound. “Lin Ningkun, you really have courage. Do you want to defy the imperial decree?”
Lin Ningkun paused, his face instantly turning deathly pale, his body involuntarily shaking.
Not to mention now, even when Lin Family was at its peak, they were merely minor officials.
Imperial power was heaven; their Lin Family was but ants among the myriad worlds.
Even if given ten thousand times their courage, they would not dare, but he was unwilling.
A cold smile rose at the corners of Wei Chang’s mouth as he swept his gaze toward Lin clan members. “Or do your Lin family members want to defy the imperial decree?”
Sweat instantly drenched Lin Runkun’s forehead and back.
How could Lin Family defy the decree?
He was still counting on Lin Family to rise to prominence. How could he allow their future prospects to be ruined at this time?
He immediately knelt down. “Crown Prince, our Lin Family absolutely has no such intention. Since it is His Majesty’s order, our Lin Family will naturally obey the imperial decree.”
“Madam Lin, oh no, should not be called Madam Lin now, should be called Jiang Ruanxi. Even if not up to par, she is still a third-rank Madam. His Majesty will not tolerate the slightest stain.”
Wei Chang’s meaning was very clear: if Jiang Ruanxi had a stain, it would defile imperial power.
In this era, divorcing a wife meant the woman was at fault, but divorce usually meant the man was at fault.
His Majesty’s meaning was obvious: Jiang Ruanxi could receive this honor because Lin Family had done wrong.
This was a direct slap to Lin Family’s face.
Most crucially, Lin Family could not voice any objection.
If Lin Family was like this, Jiang Family naturally had to weigh their options.
No matter how capable Jiang Family was, they were ultimately subjects and naturally did not dare disobey.
Moreover, their original objective was to take Jiang Ruanxi away. Now that Jiang Ruanxi was no longer in Lin Family, they had no reason to stay.
As for Lin Family, even if Lin Ningkun was unwilling, the clan members would not allow him to do more harm.
Watching Jiang Ruanxi’s corpse being carried away, Lin Ningkun’s eyes reddened. He wanted to pounce forward but was stopped by Lin Runkun calling people. “Drag him down for me.”
“Let go of me. Without my permission, no one can take her away from my side.” Lin Ningkun struggled forcefully, speaking with deep affection.
Even if his hat fell off, revealing his toad-like head, he no longer cared.
