Chapter 9: Not A Very Fortunate Life
A trace of disappointment flashed in Jiang Ruanxi’s eyes, but Bian Du continued, “However, Madam, rest assured. Although my Master is wandering the clouds, he sends me letters every six months.”
He counted on his fingers, “In another half month, there should be news.”
Jiang Ruanxi’s eyes lit up, and she said respectfully, “Then I must trouble Master. If you have information on the Nameless Daoist, please inform me.”
“Madam is too polite. Naturally, I will send you a letter when the time comes.”
After coming out of the alley, Jiang Ruanxi got into the carriage. Hong Ye was quite puzzled, “Madam, that Daoist looks just like a beggar, and his words may not be reliable.”
“Whether he can be trusted or not, we’ll see when we meet. Thinking of something, Jiang Ruanxi instructed her, “Today’s matter, just pretend it never happened. You must not tell anyone, understand?”
Hong Ye was startled by her serious expression and nodded, “I understand, Madam.”
“Bang,”
As soon as Hong Ye finished speaking, a loud collision sound came from outside, and the carriage quickly shook and came to a stop.
“Madam, are you alright?” Hong Ye asked with a face full of concern.
Jiang Ruanxi shook her head, her brows slightly furrowed, “I’m fine. Go out and see what happened.”
“Alright.”
Before long, Hong Ye came back.
“Madam, our carriage collided with the one in front.”
Seeing that it was getting late, Jiang Ruanxi took out ten taels of silver from her collar and gave it to Hong Ye, “We’re in a hurry. Go give them this silver as compensation.”
Hong Ye took the silver and went out, returning quickly.
Meanwhile, Jiang Ruanxi had other matters on her mind and did not dwell on this incident, heading directly to Zhenguo Marquis Manor.
After they left, in the other carriage, the man stared deeply at the ten taels of silver before him, gently rubbing it.
The servant beside him said, “Young Master, this silver from the other side is probably meant as an apology.”
The man, who was noble, elegant, and somewhat reserved, furrowed his brows slightly.
In all his life, this was the first time he had received silver stuffed at him to settle a carriage collision.
And the culprit had now run off.
If it had been anyone else who offended him, they would have already knelt begging for mercy, but she had dismissed him with these ten taels of silver.
The man casually tossed the silver aside and asked offhandedly, “Who is the other side?”
“Judging by the mark on the carriage, it should be female family members from Dingning Marquis Manor.”
The man’s ink-black eyes flickered slightly, “Oh, could it be that young lady who was brought back halfway to Yongyi Marquis Manor?”
The servant was very surprised. Their young master usually paid no attention to mortal world affairs, so why was he asking about this today?
But no one could guess their young master’s thoughts. He quickly said what he knew, “Possibly. It’s said that the young lady from Yongyi Marquis Manor who had been lost outside was brought home at her coming-of-age ceremony and married to the Marquis of Dingning. But it’s heard that this Marquis of Dingning is not very good to this true young lady from Yongyi Marquis Manor who had been lost outside. On the day of the wedding, he went to take up his post, and only now has he returned here.”
The man glanced at the silver in the corner and said darkly, “The Marquis of Dingning’s Madam is quite generous, just not very fortunate.”
“Young Master is right.”
“Hurry on the road, lest we delay the time.”
The carriage slowly moved forward, heading into the small alley that Jiang Ruanxi had just come out of.
**
After arriving at Zhenguo Marquis Manor, Jiang Ruanxi presented her calling card, and soon a servant from Zhenguo Marquis Manor led them inside.
The Mistress of Zhenguo Marquis Manor was precisely the Second Miss of Dingning Marquis Manor, Ning Kun’s sister, Lin Qingxu.
The Marquis of Zhenguo was many years older than her; she was his second wife.
The Marquis of Zhenguo’s original wife had passed away from a serious illness, and at that time Dingning Marquis Manor was in decline. Seizing the opportunity, the people of the manor married Lin Qingxu to the Marquis of Zhenguo.
To be honest, marrying one’s own biological daughter to a man who could be her father, no one knew what Madam Zhou was thinking.
In the Lin Family for so many years, Jiang Ruanxi was not close to anyone, but only with this sister-in-law could she exchange a few words.
It was not for any other reason, but because this sister-in-law understood matters.
She came to see Lin Qingxu today, besides other objectives, because she truly wanted to visit her.
Some time ago, she heard that Lin Qingxu had taken a fall, so as sister-in-law and friend, she should come to see her.
Speaking of which, Lin Qingxu was not doing very well either.
The Old Marquis of Zhenguo whom she married originally had a legitimate son, who was Jiang Xuerou’s husband.
But five years ago, he had died on the battlefield.
After Lin Qingxu married into the manor, she only gave birth to one daughter, so now the manor was in a state of no heir.
And all the collateral relatives of Zhenguo Marquis Manor were vying to send their own children over. The Old Marquis was now aged and bedridden, leaving Lin Qingxu alone to manage the manor.
Entering the room, Yuping, who was by Lin Qingxu’s side, came forward with worry on her face.
“Madam Lin, you’ve come, that’s truly great. Our Madam has been lying in bed day after day, worried after the miscarriage. I see that if this continues, Madam’s health will collapse.”
Jiang Ruanxi nodded and soon arrived at Lin Qingxu’s room.
As soon as she entered, she could smell the strong medicinal odor.
Lin Qingxu on the bed had no color in her face at all. Her formerly somewhat plump face was now skin and bones, and with the coughing, she seemed about to pass away at any moment.
Jiang Ruanxi was stunned; she hadn’t expected her to be so seriously ill.
She still remembered that in the previous life, Lin Qingxu seemed to pass not long after, and the manor received news of her death from illness.
In the previous life, she had also been worried about manor affairs and thus did not visit her. Upon hearing of her death, she felt guilty for not having seen her once before she died.
“Second Sister-in-law, you’ve come.”
Seeing Jiang Ruanxi, Lin Qingxu’s eyes brightened, and she struggled to get up.
Seeing this, Jiang Ruanxi quickly went forward to hold her down, “Don’t get up. You’ve just had a miscarriage and need to rest well.”
After sitting down, she touched her hand, which had no flesh at all, feeling a bit uncomfortable in her heart. She composed her emotions and thought of what Yuping had just said. “What exactly happened to you? I only heard you took a fall, but not that you had a miscarriage.”
Lin Qingxu showed a pained expression, “I just wasn’t careful while walking and fell.”
“How was it Madam not being careful? Clearly it was”
“Yuping, shut up.” Before Yuping could finish, Lin Qingxu scolded her coldly, “This matter was me not being careful while walking and falling. It has nothing to do with others, understand?”
Yuping didn’t dare speak and could only lower her head aggrievedly.
