Chapter 73: It’s Truly The Thief Crying Thief
Jiang Ruanxi had long harbored thoughts of separating from Lin Ningkun. Previously, she had considered killing Lin Ningkun and living freely on her own.
But now it seemed that even if Lin Ningkun died, her own fate would likely be to remain a widow for life, confined in Dingning Marquis Manor.
If it came to that, she would rather not.
In this lifetime, she could only leave Dingning Marquis Manor alive.
Moreover, the person who exchanged fates had yet to be found, and the Jiang Family had thoroughly offended them. They would surely come to cause her trouble, so now was not the time to leave Dingning Marquis Manor.
“Imperial decree has arrived.”
Jiang Ruanxi was just thinking about the Jiang Family and how they would deal with her next when an exalted voice rang out from outside. She didn’t dare delay and hurried out.
“By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The private matter between the Heir Apparent’s Wife of Zhenguo Marquis Manor and the Marquis of Dingning has stirred up a storm across the entire capital. We find it deeply shameful and hereby abolish the noble title of Zhenguo Marquis Manor…”
Hearing this, the Lin Family Members’ faces all turned pale.
Madam Zhou in particular swayed a few times after hearing it, nearly fainting.
Lin Ningkun’s complexion was also unsightly, with veins faintly bulging on his forehead.
“However, considering that the Marquis of Dingning’s Wife donated medicinal herbs to the court, saving the common people from dire straits, merits offset demerits. The noble title of Dingning Marquis Manor is temporarily spared abolition. The Marquis of Dingning’s Wife is rewarded with a thousand taels of gold and granted the title of Third-rank Madam. So it is decreed!”
The eunuch proclaiming the decree looked at Lin Ningkun with scorn and said, “Marquis of Dingning, receive the decree.”
Lin Ningkun felt a sigh of relief in his heart, but he was also dissatisfied that the imperial decree only rewarded Jiang Ruanxi. However, he didn’t dare show it in front of the eunuch.
He could only endure his anger and say, “This minister thanks the Emperor for his great grace.”
No sooner had the eunuch who proclaimed the decree left than Madam Zhou stood up and pointed at her nose, cursing.
“It’s all your fault. Why did you go to the Jiang Family, and even bring Crown Prince along? If you hadn’t gone, no one would have known about the Marquis and Jiang Xuerou’s matter. Now it’s all out in the open—everyone knows, and the Lin Family’s noble title was nearly lost. You disaster of a woman…”
“Mother, that statement is quite wrong. What do you mean it’s all because of me that the Lin Family’s noble title was nearly lost?”
Jiang Ruanxi wouldn’t indulge her nonsense. It seemed Madam Zhou was still heated and hadn’t sobered up.
“I did bring Crown Prince to the Jiang Family, but how could I know the Marquis would be there at that time? Moreover, with the Marquis doing such a thing, does Mother think it wouldn’t have become public knowledge if Crown Prince hadn’t stumbled upon it?”
It was truly ridiculous—doing something so disgusting and then blaming her for exposing it.
It was truly the thief crying thief.
“Or does Mother think there’s nothing wrong with the Marquis doing such a shameful thing?” Jiang Ruanxi questioned her.
Madam Zhou was questioned into speechlessness.
She naturally felt it was improper, but facing Jiang Ruanxi, even knowing she was wrong, she absolutely wouldn’t admit it.
“I advise Mother to make one thing clear: His Majesty’s decree stated it plainly—the Lin Family’s noble title was nearly lost because the Marquis did wrong, and it was preserved in the end because I, Jiang Ruanxi, had merit from donating medicinal herbs.
If Mother still has objections to this matter and insists on pinning this mess on me, I wouldn’t mind taking Mother to face His Majesty and ask for clarification.”
“You dare.”
Madam Zhou flew into a rage from shame—Jiang Ruanxi was clearly threatening her.
“His Majesty granted me the title of Third-rank Madam. Does Mother think I’m threatening you?”
Madam Jiang was merely a Marquis Manor Madam now, and even Lin Ningkun’s official position upon returning to the capital hadn’t been settled. Even if he were exceptionally capable, reaching fourth rank would already be extraordinary.
To put it bluntly, even if he clawed his way through officialdom his whole life, he probably couldn’t reach Jiang Ruanxi’s height.
In the capital, they said one rank higher crushes to death. Jiang Ruanxi was no longer inclined to endure this disgusting family.
“You…”
Madam Zhou wanted to retort, but after one word, Lin Ningkun impatiently interrupted, “Enough, say less.”
Lin Ningkun painfully closed his eyes, then opened them again.
“Mother, there’s no benefit in saying more about this matter. You should go back first.”
Right now, the Marquis Manor still had to rely on Jiang Ruanxi—it wasn’t time to conflict with her.
Madam Zhou had never lost face like this in her life. Though unwilling deep down, she knew times had changed and could only heed Lin Ningkun’s words, storming off angrily.
Madam He and Lin Feng weren’t concerned with these matters and left after the decree was received.
After they all left, only Lin Ningkun and Jiang Ruanxi remained in the room.
“Sorry, Mother was just too excited. She did it all for our good.” Lin Ningkun said full of apology.
“Marquis is mistaken. Mother spoke that way out of unfairness to you, to vent for you—not for my good.”
Lin Ningkun’s breath hitched. Was she drawing a clear line with him completely?
For some reason, his heart felt as uncomfortable as if it were being tugged.
Disgust like stepping in excrement showed in Jiang Ruanxi’s brows and eyes; she furrowed them tightly, no longer pretending.
“Marquis, have you forgotten what you did? Do you think I can still face you as before?”
Lin Ningkun was stunned, not expecting Jiang Ruanxi to say this.
But he didn’t think there was anything wrong. Men having three wives and four concubines was normal, and besides, he hadn’t even married Jiang Xuerou into the manor, so he was already a good man.
If it were before, he wouldn’t bother explaining to Jiang Ruanxi, but now wanting to salvage her, he could only patiently explain.
“Jiang Ruanxi, I know you’re angry at me now, but there really was nothing between Jiang Xuerou and me. You heard it that night—I was drunk, I thought Xiao Ge’er was my child, but actually she deceived me.”
At this point, Lin Ningkun grew very angry, not expecting to have been deceived by Jiang Xuerou for so long.
“Marquis, after Xiao Ge’er, was there really nothing between you and Jiang Xuerou?”
“I”
Lin Ningkun couldn’t continue.
Because he and Jiang Xuerou weren’t truly pure.
But there was no child between them.
“All these years, even if you didn’t physically have anything with Jiang Xuerou, you truly wanted her to replace me.”
Lin Ningkun choked, because what Jiang Ruanxi said was true. Back then, he had indeed planned to rise high and then have Jiang Xuerou replace her, reuniting as a family of three.
“Jiang Ruanxi, I know I was wrong before, but those were past thoughts. Now I’ve seen Jiang Xuerou that poisonous woman for what she is—just toying with me. I’m already regretful; now I just want to live well.” He swallowed and said with difficulty.
He had those thoughts before but not now?
Was he treating her place like a garbage dump, tossing others’ unwanted trash straight to her?
“So Marquis thinks this kind of thing—you want someone else to replace me and they do, you want to turn back and you can? In Marquis’s heart, am I just someone summoned at a call and dismissed at a wave?” Jiang Ruanxi felt it utterly ironic.
