Chapter 74: Have You Ever Seen A Dog That Can Stop Eating Shit?
“No, that’s not it.”
Lin Ningkun hurriedly denied.
“Does the Marquis know why I had someone dig up the plum trees in the courtyard?” Jiang Ruanxi did not argue with him further and suddenly said wistfully.
Lin Ningkun was puzzled, suddenly the topic turned to peach trees.
Jiang Ruanxi fell into reminiscence.
“When I first married into the Lin Family, I truly wanted to live harmoniously with the Marquis, so I racked my brains to please you. Knowing you liked plum blossoms, I planted them in every corner of the manor, just to see the Marquis’s smile on such a cold winter day.
Even knowing the Marquis Manor was in difficulty, I did not hesitate to use my own dowry as subsidy. But not long ago, I inadvertently learned that the Marquis had bought the neighboring courtyard. When I went in and saw the arrangement inside, I realized that the Marquis had long ago prepared a courtyard for Jiang Xuerou, filled with plum trees just like the courtyard in her maternal home.
Only then did I understand that the Marquis, like me, did not actually like plum trees; it was merely loving the person who loved them.”
“Jiang Ruanxi, I…”
Lin Ningkun was shocked to the core; he truly had not expected that Jiang Ruanxi had done all these things for him.
He felt his throat was tightly gripped, wanting to speak but not knowing how to open his mouth.
“The Marquis’s actions are utterly sarcastic to me; they make me feel that everything I did before was so cheap.”
“No, it’s not like that.”
He always had a feeling that he was about to lose Jiang Ruanxi.
Jiang Ruanxi said everything she had seen in her previous life and everything she wanted to say in her heart today, feeling much more at ease.
She then turned serious, staring at Lin Ningkun.
“But rest assured, Marquis, those are all things of the past. From now on, I will never do such foolish things again.”
“Jiang Ruanxi, I already said those are all things of the past. You and I are originally husband and wife; I’ve already apologized to you, so why do you keep dwelling on it?”
Lin Ningkun’s face turned ashen; he truly could not understand—was it not proper for a woman to please a man?
Was it not normal for a man to have three wives and four concubines?
Even if he liked Jiang Xuerou, so what?
She was not even a proper concubine; why was she fussing over those things?
As long as he returned to the Marquis Manor, he would not divorce Jiang Ruanxi.
Why could she not just be a proper Marquis Manor Madam who understood her husband instead of being so petty?
“When Jiang Xuerou had Second Brother kill me and the Marquis pushed me out to save his own life, there was no longer any connection between us.”
Jiang Ruanxi had thought Lin Ningkun was well-read and a true gentleman, yet she had not expected him to be so shameless.
“After such a thing has happened, Marquis, instead of begging for my forgiveness here, you should think about your own official career.”
Lin Ningkun’s heart jolted; this was indeed what he was most worried about.
“Marquis, the Clan Leader is here.”
The servant’s words from outside interrupted their conversation. Lin Ningkun thought Lin Runkun had brought news about his official career and had no mind to continue talking with Jiang Ruanxi.
“Jiang Ruanxi, wait for me; I’ll be right back.”
With that, he strode out.
A trace of sarcasm curled at Jiang Ruanxi’s lips, but Hong Ye said, “Madam, it seems the Marquis won’t give up. Maybe the Marquis has truly turned over a new leaf?”
“Have you ever seen a dog that could change its habit of eating shit?”
The mocking words made Hong Ye’s face stiffen; the Madam was actually comparing the Marquis to a dog.
If Jiang Ruanxi knew Hong Ye’s thoughts, she would only say that given the disgusting things he had done, was he even worthy of being compared to a dog?
He was not even as good as a dog.
Jiang Ruanxi said wistfully, “Once a person’s self-esteem is shattered, they become shameless. A shameless person will not truly repent; they will only become more and more shameless.”
“Then Madam, what should we do?” Hong Ye worried for Jiang Ruanxi; now that she and Lin Ningkun had torn face, would Lin Ningkun make things difficult for her?
“Don’t worry; he has endless troubles of his own now and no time to deal with us.” Jiang Ruanxi said affirmatively, “Moreover, your Madam is now at least an Imperial Decree of Nobility Madam. For the sake of his own future prospects, he definitely won’t make trouble for us.”
Hong Ye suddenly understood.
“Madam, you mean the Marquis is thinking of pleasing you only for the sake of his own future?”
“You’ve finally been smart once.” Jiang Ruanxi smiled and tapped her forehead.
Hong Ye grinned foolishly but still felt very sorry for her.
“Madam, how could the Marquis treat you like this? If Madam had not been granted the Imperial Decree of Nobility this time, wouldn’t you have been bullied by the Marquis?”
“Your Marquis is not that foolish. Even without the Imperial Decree of Nobility Madam title, my dowry alone would be enough to make him bow his head.”
Hong Ye grew even more worried. “Hmph, then Madam must guard the dowry well and not let the Marquis take it.”
“Don’t worry; he won’t get a single cent.”
**
Front Courtyard.
As soon as Lin Ningkun entered the main hall, he saw Lin Runkun’s face as dark as ink.
Before he could sit down, Lin Runkun cursed directly at him, “Marquis, look at what you’ve done. You’ve completely disgraced our Lin Family.”
Lin Ningkun had never been scolded to his face like this; his face immediately darkened. But thinking that his official career still depended on Lin Runkun, he endured it no matter how uncomfortable he felt.
After sitting down, Lin Ningkun poured himself a cup of tea.
“Second Uncle, how are my matters being handled?”
Speaking of this, Lin Runkun was furious.
“You still have the face to ask? If not for the shameless scandal you caused, could you have gotten the job at the Hanlin Academy? Now everything is gone, all gone.”
As he spoke, Lin Runkun’s voice grew smaller, like a deflating balloon.
Their Lin Family had produced only one talent like Lin Ningkun, but he had to go and hook up with a widow, and one with blood ties at that.
After the matter was exposed, everything was lost.
One must know, the Hanlin Academy managed the court’s internal affairs.
Not just anyone could enter.
Only those from scholarly families with true talent and learning could enter.
Why did the He family have such high status? Was it not because they had risen from the Hanlin Academy to Grand Secretary, producing several such figures and enjoying glory for generations?
For a marquis family like Lin Ningkun’s, scheming for an ordinary job was one thing, but entering the Hanlin Academy would truly be ancestral blessings.
He could almost imagine how glorious their Lin Family would be if he entered the Hanlin Academy.
It would revive the former glory of their Marquis Manor.
But now, the job that was within reach had fallen through.
Lin Ningkun had not expected such an outcome and was unwilling. He said gravely, “Second Uncle, is there truly no way to salvage it?”
