Chapter 139: Who Among You Dares To Touch Her Corpse?
In short, Lin Ningkun truly would not believe that the Jiang Family wanted to stand up for Jiang Ruanxi; they must have some unspeakable secret.
“The Lin Clan Members have no relation to this matter. Direct any anger you have at me. I am willing to give my life for Jiang Ruanxi’s matter.”
After speaking, Lin Ningkun pulled a dagger from his bosom and held it against his neck. “As long as the Jiang Family can vent your anger, I am willing to die right here on the spot.”
The Lin Clan Members were moved. Although Lin Ningkun’s actions were excessive, since people had come bullying to the Lin Family’s door, they naturally could not stand by idly.
Lin Runkun originally had grievances against Lin Ningkun, but seeing him step forward at this critical time, he felt much more favorably toward him in his heart.
He stepped forward and looked at the Jiang Family Members. “Third Master Jiang, the dead cannot be brought back to life. Does the Jiang Family truly intend to force the Lin Family Members to death before stopping?”
Jiang Rui said indifferently, “My sister’s life is extremely precious. Even if the entire Lin Clan died, it could not exchange for her life.”
Even if Jiang Ruanxi was ever so capable, she was ultimately just a clan wife of the Lin Family. For the Jiang Family to want the entire Lin Family to give their lives for her was truly arrogant.
“Although Jiang Ruanxi met a tragic death, the murderer who killed her was Concubine Lin. If you want someone to fill for her life, you should go find Concubine Lin. Relying on your status and position to bully the Lin Family’s sons, what kind of skill is that?”
“Our Jiang Family is not the type to press an advantage unreasonably.” Jiang Linlei, standing to the side, spoke up with a calm tone.
“Lin Clan Leader, my second sister died so wrongly. Our Jiang Family cannot bear to add more killing; we only ask that you return my second sister’s corpse today since she drifted outside. This matter will end here, and the Jiang Family will not pursue it further.”
“Impossible.” Lin Ningkun refused without mercy. “She is the Jiang Lin Family’s patriarch’s daughter-in-law. After death, she will naturally be buried by the Lin Family.”
“During my second sister’s lifetime, you already failed her. Could it be that after her death, you still do not want her to rest in peace?”
“The ones who do not want her to rest in peace are you Jiang Family people.”
“Lin Ningkun, do you dare oppose the Jiang Family? Could it be that you no longer consider your entire Lin Family’s future prospects?” Compared to Jiang Rui’s arrogance, Jiang Linlei’s tone was calm but carried an extremely strong threat.
After a series of blows, he naturally no longer cared now, but the Lin Clan Members cared greatly.
He Sheng even advised, “Second Brother, the Lin Family is ultimately at fault in this matter. Why not hand over the corpse?”
In her eyes, Jiang Ruanxi was already dead, and keeping her served no purpose.
Sacrificing the interests of one dead person to fulfill a bunch of living people was a worthwhile deal no matter how one thought about it.
“Since Sister-in-law and I have already divided the family, please do not interfere in the Second Branch’s matters. As for Xi’er’s matter, it will not implicate the Eldest Branch, much less the Lin Clan Members.”
He Sheng’s face tightened. Even though they had divided the family, if the Lin Family refused to yield, the Jiang Family might still vent their anger on them.
“Sister-in-law and the clan leader fear the Jiang Family and worry about the Lin Family’s future prospects, but I, Lin Ningkun, am now alone and have no more concerns.” Lin Ningkun said firmly, “I will not give Jiang Ruanxi to them. Even if she is dead, she will be the Lin Family’s patriarch’s daughter-in-law. I will not let her become a lonely wandering ghost.”
“What Lin Family patriarch’s daughter-in-law? Lin Ningkun, stop your hypocrisy here. Aren’t you just trying to monopolize my second sister’s dowry?” Jiang Rui’s face grew increasingly ugly. This group of Lin Family Members was truly difficult to deal with.
Lin Ningkun’s gaze darkened. “The Jiang Family coming to demand the corpse is false; coming to demand the dowry is true, isn’t it?”
Jiang Rui gave a cold smile. “What a joke. Would the Jiang Family care about that dowry? It’s just that my second sister met a tragic death, and we do not want to benefit you Lin Family. My second sister was in the Lin Family for so many years; if she had a child, that would be one thing, but she has no child, so this dowry should be returned to the Jiang Family. Either the Lin Family hands over the corpse and returns my second sister’s dowry, or else, even if this matter is brought before His Majesty, the Jiang Family will not let it rest easily.”
Lin Ningkun regretted it. Why was he so stubborn back then?
If he had given Jiang Ruanxi a child, could he now rightfully keep her belongings in the face of the Jiang Family’s difficulties?
But what use was regret?
Seeing both sides at a stalemate, Lin Runkun did not want to escalate the matter. “Ning Kun, why not compromise a little?”
“Clan Leader, there is no room for compromise in this matter.” Lin Ningkun’s attitude was unusually firm.
Although he did not know what the Jiang Family wanted to do with taking Jiang Ruanxi’s corpse back, he absolutely could not let them succeed.
“Since you refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit, do not blame the Jiang Family for not giving face. Men, go and bring Second Miss’s corpse back.”
“You dare.” Lin Ningkun’s eyes reddened as he blocked in front. “Whoever dares to touch her corpse must step over my dead body first.”
“If any Lin Family person dares to obstruct, beat them to death with clubs.”
No sooner had the words fallen than the Jiang Family’s servants rushed forward.
“Crown Prince arrives.”
At this critical moment, a loud voice rang out, and the Jiang Family and Lin Family people all stopped.
Just as Lin Ningkun was prepared to fight to the death to protect Jiang Ruanxi’s corpse, a luxurious carriage stopped in the distance.
The watching commoners all made way, kneeling on the ground.
Wei Chang descended wearing a suit of black clothes, his gaze cold and indifferent as he swept over the crowd.
“Paying respects to Crown Prince.”
The Jiang Family people and Lin Family people all saluted together.
“This palace heard that today is Madam Lin’s funeral day. Why does this not look like it?” Wei Chang’s tone was indifferent. “Not the slightest bit of grief, yet full of scheming.”
The Jiang Family Members’ faces showed shame. Jiang Rui hurriedly said, “Your Highness speaks correctly. My family sister suffered this calamity, and the Jiang Family Members came only to retrieve my sister’s corpse and dowry.”
Wei Chang glanced at him, and cold words came again.
“The Jiang Family Members have truly brought honor. Robbing a coffin—this palace has lived so long and sees it for the first time. One wonders if Madam Lin’s spirit in heaven, seeing this scene, would feel heartbroken.”
The Jiang Family Members paused. At first they thought the Crown Prince was helping them, but now it did not seem so.
“Although Lin Tingting killed Madam Lin, she has already married out and, by reason, is no longer a Lin Family person. The Lin Family did not divorce her, and Madam Lin did not divorce from the Lin Family. For the Jiang Family to take away the Lin Family’s clan wife just on the grounds that Second Miss Jiang was wronged—is this reason not a bit too far-fetched?”
The Lin Family Members were excited to tears. Finally, a high-ranking and powerful person was speaking for the Lin Family Members.
Did they, the Lin Family Members, wish for this?
Who knew that Lin Tingting, that scourge, whether her head was kicked by a donkey—willingly becoming a concubine and losing the Lin Family’s face was one thing, but she actually dared to boldly kill the Lin Family’s wife.
