Chapter 115: Take Me Back Quickly
Jiang Ruanxi didn’t even lift her head as she said, “What’s going on? Is it because of the Old Madam’s matter?”
“Madam, how did you know?” Hong Ye was surprised. She hadn’t even spoken yet, but Jiang Ruanxi already knew.
Hearing this, Jiang Ruanxi put down the book, excitement flickering in her eyes.
Hong Ye became even more puzzled. Why was Jiang Ruanxi so happy?
It seemed even happier than when the Old Madam and the Old Aunt had committed crimes and been imprisoned.
“Tell me the details?”
Hong Ye recounted everything she had seen to Jiang Ruanxi in full detail.
“Originally, the First Master wanted to bring the Old Madam back to the Lin Family, but Lin Shu’s people directly sent her to the Clan Leader. However, the First Master refused and now they’re quarreling fiercely.”
“Let’s go watch the excitement.”
Jiang Ruanxi stood up and walked outside.
When Jiang Ruanxi brought Hong Ye to Lin Runkun’s home, Lin Feng’s cursing voice was ringing out, “Lin Shu, don’t think that just because you’ve become a minor official, you can control everything in the Lin Family. I’m definitely taking my mother away today.”
“Aunt has done such a vicious thing. She may escape the death penalty, but she cannot escape the living punishment. Although she seems fine now, every family has its rules. She has violated the family laws and must be punished.” Lin Shu stood at the door, blocking Lin Feng from entering.
“Are you trying to force me to strike?” Lin Feng threatened Lin Shu with a cold face.
Lin Shu was so angry his face turned blue. Seeing that reason wouldn’t work, he no longer tried to reason with him, stepped forward, “Try striking me and see. It seems you also want to go to prison to sober up your brain.”
Lin Feng lost reason in his anger, grabbed Lin Shu’s collar, raised his hand to swing at Lin Shu’s face, when Jiang Ruanxi’s voice timely appeared.
“Elder Brother, what are you doing? Lin Shu is an official, you are a commoner. You’d better think clearly.”
These words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly sobering the hot-headed Lin Feng, who let go of Lin Shu’s collar.
Lin Shu didn’t argue with him. Seeing it was Jiang Ruanxi, his expression softened a bit, and he respectfully called out, “Second Sister-in-law.”
Jiang Ruanxi nodded in return, but Lin Feng had a cold face, “Second Brother’s Wife, you’ve come at the right time. Lin Shu won’t let me take Mother back.”
Jiang Ruanxi didn’t directly answer his question, instead rhetorically asking him, “Elder Brother, does Elder Sister-in-law know you’ve come here?”
Lin Feng’s expression was a bit unnatural, but he soon said righteously, “Your Sister-in-law is feeling unwell, so I came by myself today.”
The implication was that she didn’t know.
Madam He was heavily pregnant and indeed unsuitable for exertion, but Jiang Ruanxi knew very well in her heart that Madam He didn’t come not because of this reason, but because she fundamentally didn’t want Madam Zhou to return.
“Since the Clan Leader summoned Mother, why not hear what the Clan Leader has to say.”
Lin Feng frowned, but thinking that if he didn’t clarify, he might really not be able to take Mother away.
Seeing him silent, Jiang Ruanxi then said to Lin Shu, “I wonder where the Clan Leader is?”
“In the Ancestral Hall.”
“Please lead the way.”
The Lin Family’s ancestral hall was a small courtyard specially built for it, actually just a wall away from the Lin Family residence.
Before the Lin Family had its noble title stripped, the Zhou Clan followed the Lin Family’s lead in everything.
Rather than saying this ancestral hall was built for the Zhou Clan, it was better to say it was built for the Lin Family.
After the Lin Family declined, the Clan Leader locked the courtyard gate, leaving only the main gate for entry and exit.
The ancestral hall was solemn and dignified. It was now deep autumn, the time when leaves were falling. Entering the courtyard, it was full of fallen leaves, and with the weak sunlight, there was a gloomy atmosphere as soon as one entered.
This place enshrined over a hundred spirit tablets of the Lin Family ancestors. Even with sunlight, it couldn’t dispel that chill.
Inside the ancestral hall, Lin Runkun stood to one side, while Madam Zhou knelt on the ground.
Seeing this, Lin Feng rushed forward directly, “Mother, are you alright?”
Madam Zhou’s face was deathly pale. Seeing Lin Feng, she grabbed his hand and cried with snot and tears, “Feng’er, this ghostly place is too terrifying. Take me back quickly.”
Although she had only been locked in the prison cell for five days and nights, Madam Zhou had lived a pampered life these years. How could she endure such hardship?
Not only was the food cold, it also had a sour smell.
The prison cell was chillingly cold at night, the bedding thin and hard. That was bad enough, but in the middle of the night, she could still hear the rats squeaking.
When she opened her eyes, the rat was right in front of her, seemingly unafraid of her at all, which scared her soul out of her.
She couldn’t eat well or sleep.
She had finally endured until release, thinking she could take a comfortable bath upon return, eat a good meal, and sleep beautifully.
But who would have thought she would be dragged here to this broken ancestral hall to kneel.
She now felt uncomfortable and afraid all over, only wanting to leave this ghostly place quickly.
Lin Feng looked heartbroken and said to Lin Runkun, “Clan Leader, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my mother back now.”
As he spoke, he went to pull Madam Zhou up, but was stopped by Lin Runkun.
“Stop. She cannot leave today.” Lin Runkun’s voice carried a bit of authority and pressure.
While Lin Feng was still stunned, the Clan Leader added, “Not only today, but she won’t be able to leave in the future either.”
“Clan Leader, what do you mean?” Lin Feng seemed to understand something but didn’t dare confirm.
“Madam Zhou’s plot against me cannot be let go just like that.”
“Clan Leader, didn’t you forgive my mother? And the yamen has already ruled on this matter. My mother is innocent. She didn’t intend to kill you; she was instigated by someone…”
“The reason I publicly forgave your mother was only for the Lin Family’s reputation and the future prospects of the Lin Family descendants. But who can guarantee your mother won’t make mistakes again in the future?”
Lin Runkun directly interrupted Lin Feng’s words.
Madam Zhou’s greed was known to all in the Lin Clan.
Lin Feng thought of the things Madam Zhou had done before and was suddenly speechless.
“Lock her in the ancestral hall. This is already the greatest leniency toward her.”
After all, he had been poisoned. Although Lin Runkun had been saved, his face was pale and fatigued.
It was clear he had suffered a great loss of vital energy.
Jiang Ruanxi quietly watched this scene, the corners of her mouth slightly lifting.
“No, I don’t want to go into the ancestral hall.”
Madam Zhou struggled to get up but was held down by the Lin Clan members, unable to move an inch.
The ancestral hall was cold and dark, with so many enshrined spirit tablets inside. She was timid to begin with; she didn’t want to stay in this ghostly place.
“It’s not up to you.” The Clan Leader rebuked, “Madam Zhou has committed a grave error. If she isn’t punished, what if in the future the Lin Clan members all follow her example? There would be no restraint, how could I convince the masses?”
After all, she was his own mother. Lin Feng truly could not bear to see it, “Clan Leader, besides this method, is there really no other way?”
Lin Runkun glanced at Jiang Ruanxi, and Jiang Ruanxi nodded slightly to him.
