Chapter 17: Oh No, Trouble In The Back Courtyard!
She originally didn’t like the Heir Apparent of Zhenguo Marquis Manor, and now that he had died, she had become a widow. Leaving aside how bitter this life was, she also had to face that family of man-eating people from Zhenguo Marquis Manor. She was truly extremely uncomfortable deep down.
Madam Wei had a face full of heartache.
“Xue’er, rest assured, with Mother here, and your father and brothers here, we won’t let you be wronged in Zhenguo Marquis Manor.”
Hearing this, Jiang Xuerou finally became happy and directly threw herself into Madam Wei’s embrace. “Mother, you are really too good to me.”
“Silly child, you are Mother’s daughter. If Mother isn’t good to you, who should she be good to?” Madam Wei had a face full of indulgence as she stroked her head.
Jiang Xuerou gradually stopped crying, and a smile rose at the corners of her mouth.
Thinking of something, she slightly pushed away Madam Wei and left her embrace.
“Mother, I haven’t spoken to Xiao Ge’er in a long time. I want to speak alone with Xiao Ge’er.”
Madam Wei was somewhat troubled and slightly furrowed her brows. “Xue’er, there are many people and eyes today. If you two meet, I’m afraid…”
Without waiting for her to finish, Jiang Xuerou directly interrupted her words. “Mother, I know there will be danger. But now that I’ve returned to Zhenguo Marquis Manor, who knows when I can come back. If I don’t see him this time, I’m afraid I’ll never have the chance to see him in this lifetime.”
Her head was lowered, her hands twisting her handkerchief, her voice carrying a bit of a sobbing tone. If Madam Wei didn’t agree, it felt like tears would come out again the next second.
Seeing this, Madam Wei’s heart immediately softened, and she said without hesitation, “Good, Mother agrees. I’ll go speak to the Marquis right now and have him arrange for you mother and son to meet.”
**
Front Courtyard.
“Marquis, all the guests have arrived, and they’re all hungry. Shall we start the banquet?”
Lin Ningkun knew Jiang Xuerou had come, but he hadn’t seen Jiang Xuerou in the front courtyard. His heart was all on Jiang Xuerou, and he had a completely distraught appearance.
He hadn’t heard Jiang Ruanxi’s words at all.
“Marquis, you’re looking toward the back courtyard. What are you looking at?”
Lin Ningkun suddenly awakened. He looked at Jiang Ruanxi’s half-smiling face and instantly sobered up quite a bit.
His heart was a bit panicked.
Although he liked Jiang Xuerou, Jiang Ruanxi was still his legally wedded wife right now. With a bit of guilt, he said, “Noth… nothing.”
Jiang Ruanxi didn’t expose him, merely having a smiling intent at the corners of her mouth.
Lin Ningkun cleared his throat to relieve his own awkwardness. “Right, what did you just say?”
“I said today’s guests have all arrived. Can we start the banquet?”
“Then let’s start the banquet.”
Lin Ningkun walked toward the men’s side. At this time, a servant hurriedly came over and whispered something in Lin Ningkun’s ear. His expression turned grave, he gave a few instructions to Madam Zhou, and then went to the back courtyard.
Although Jiang Ruanxi was greeting guests, the corners of her mouth slightly raised.
“Madam, how should that side be seated? You still need to arrange it.”
Hong Ye came over and kindly reminded her.
Jiang Ruanxi’s gaze flashed. “I know. I’ll go right now.”
“Second Aunt Lin, those seated at this table are all from the junior generation. My mother-in-law and my mother haven’t come yet. Why don’t you sit at another table later?” When Jiang Ruanxi walked over, she saw the most troublesome elder from the clan seated at the table.
She was famously hard to serve and loved most to put on the airs of an elder. Generally, juniors didn’t like sitting with her.
“You are an elder in the clan. Sitting with other elders will show your nobility, right?”
Second Aunt Lin was suddenly elevated very high, her sense of vanity satisfied. She was also a bit more polite to Jiang Ruanxi. “It’s still you, daughter-in-law, who understands the big picture. I’m very satisfied with this arrangement.”
Seeing this, Hong Ye hurriedly led her away, and the women at the table all breathed a sigh of relief.
“Ruanxi, you’re still the one with the way. Every time the clan eats, Second Aunt loves to nag these juniors. We all wanted to change tables just now but were afraid of Second Aunt scolding us. Good thing you came.”
A sister-in-law from the Lin Family said.
Jiang Ruanxi just smiled. “Now that Second Aunt is gone, no one is nagging. You all eat freely. After eating, I’ve also arranged flower cards that Sister-in-law likes most. Come play a few rounds then.”
“Then I won’t be polite.”
After entertaining this group of young wives, Jiang Ruanxi went over to Second Aunt Lin’s side.
“Madam, time is up, but the Marquis hasn’t come yet.”
Jiang Ruanxi thought about the matters in the back courtyard and knew Lin Ningkun wouldn’t come for a while.
“Then start the banquet.”
“I say, Jiang Ruanxi, you’re serving the dishes now? Then where do I sit?” Second Aunt Lin shouted discontentedly.
At this table, she was the only one. Thinking Jiang Ruanxi was deceiving her and planning to isolate her, that’s why she was made to sit here, she angrily yelled.
Second Aunt Lin had a flaw: she most tabooed being neglected. Otherwise, she wouldn’t grab seats with juniors at the host’s home without arrangement.
Jiang Ruanxi tightly furrowed her brows. “Second Aunt, my mother-in-law, my mother, and the Marquis haven’t come out yet. I’m busy and can’t get away, and I don’t know what’s happening inside.”
“You don’t have time, but I do. I’ll go in and see.” Second Aunt Lin couldn’t sit still. She was holding a belly full of fire in her heart and couldn’t vent it to Jiang Ruanxi’s face, so she thought of going in to find Madam Zhou.
Jiang Ruanxi acted as if nothing had happened and found a seat to sit down.
Not long after, Hong Ye came to Jiang Ruanxi with an extremely ugly expression and whispered in her ear, “Madam, something bad happened in the back courtyard.”
Jiang Ruanxi knew exactly what was going on but still calmly wiped her mouth. “Absurd. Old Madam and the Marquis are both in the back courtyard. What big thing could happen.”
Before Hong Ye could speak, Second Sister-in-law Lin at the side said, “Didn’t Second Aunt go to the back courtyard? Your mother and your sister are also in the back. It might be Second Aunt stirring up trouble. You should still go take a look.”
“Second Sister-in-law is right, but with so many guests at home today, I can’t get away.”
Jiang Ruanxi looked at the guests around, showing a dilemma.
“Ruanxi, how about this: you greet the guests here, and I’ll go to the back courtyard to check for you.”
“Then I’ll have to trouble Second Sister-in-law.” Jiang Ruanxi sincerely thanked her.
After Second Sister-in-law Lin left, she came back out not long after, but with a strange expression.
Jiang Ruanxi hurriedly went forward. “Second Sister-in-law, did something happen inside?”
“Uh…”
Second Sister-in-law Lin looked at Jiang Ruanxi, her eyes carrying a bit of pity and a few strands of heartache.
“This… this is your family’s matter. How about I watch things here for you, and you go in to see?”
“Good, then I’ll trouble Second Sister-in-law.”
Jiang Ruanxi walked toward the back courtyard.
“Madam, Second Old Madam is shouting and yelling inside. Old Madam and the Marquis are currently inside.”
Hong Ye said as they walked, her eyes full of worry.
“What exactly happened?”
Jiang Ruanxi lowered her gaze, hiding the mockery in her eyes.
Hong Ye glanced at Jiang Ruanxi, appearing hesitant about whether to speak.
“Just say it.” Jiang Ruanxi said calmly.
