Chapter 11: This Is Utter Nonsense
Thinking that Madam didn’t care about this at all, why should he care about these matters?
He blew out the candle and went straight out the door.
In Madam Zhou’s room, Lin Ningkun was so angry that he smashed everything on the table to the ground.
Madam Zhou watched the glass lamp she had spent a fortune to buy shatter like this, feeling as if her heart was shattering along with it.
“What are you doing?” Madam Zhou stepped forward to pull him back, looking at the shattered items, also getting angry, her tone involuntarily becoming much louder, “If you’re angry, why come here to vent?”
“Isn’t it all because of you? If you hadn’t forced me to marry Jiang Ruanxi back then, I wouldn’t be like this now.” The once cold and aloof, elegant gentleman was long gone from Lin Ningkun; at this moment, he was full of hostility, as if he had become a different person.
Resentful words pierced into Madam Zhou’s heart like countless needles, and she lost reason as well, roaring at him.
“Lin Ningkun, do you think if you didn’t marry Jiang Ruanxi, you could marry that Jiang Xuerou? Back then, when Dingning Marquis Manor fell into decline, your father had just passed away, and you had no job—do you think the Jiang Family would look favorably on you and marry Jiang Xuerou to you?”
Although Madam Zhou didn’t want to say such things about her son, at this point, she felt he must recognize the reality.
Thinking of past events, Lin Ningkun instantly deflated like a leaky rooster, hanging his head and sitting in the chair.
Seeing this, Madam Zhou realized she had spoken too harshly; she took a deep breath, trying to calm her emotions.
“I know you like Jiang Xuerou deep down. All these years, no matter what you did, I’ve turned a blind eye, but this time, what you did was truly too outrageous. If anyone finds out about you and Jiang Xuerou, Dingning Marquis Manor is finished.”
He understood the reasoning, but watching his woman go back to suffer made his heart feel as uncomfortable as if millions of ants were gnawing at it; he couldn’t help but growl lowly, “All these years, I’ve had enough—how much longer do I have to endure?”
His son couldn’t be recognized into the family for now, so he endured it.
As long as he could see Jiang Xuerou and be with her every day, but now even this small wish was shattered.
He didn’t know what had gotten into Zhenguo Marquis Manor today, actually calling Jiang Xuerou back.
Madam Zhou knew Lin Ningkun was suffering inside and could only try her best to comfort and persuade him.
“Kun’er, no matter what resentment you have in your heart right now, listen to your mother: your official career is at a critical juncture—don’t act on impulse.”
“Mother, I won’t mention Xiao Ge’er’s matter, but now Zhenguo Marquis Manor is calling Xue’er back—go talk to Second Sister and ask her not to call Xue’er back.”
Lin Ningkun had grown accustomed to Jiang Xuerou living next door; he was truly afraid something unexpected would happen if she went back.
“Nonsense, utter nonsense.” Madam Zhou scolded directly, “Even if Jiang Xuerou has become a widow, she is still Zhenguo Marquis Manor’s Heir Apparent’s Wife. It’s only right for your Second Sister to call her back—how am I supposed to talk to her? Tell her about you and Jiang Xuerou?”
Lin Ningkun fell silent; deep down, he knew Lin Qingxu was completely unaware of this, and moreover, Lin Qingxu was close to Jiang Ruanxi—they had a very good relationship.
If he told Lin Qingxu about him and Jiang Xuerou, she would definitely tell Jiang Ruanxi too.
“Even without your Second Sister calling her back, as long as she remains Zhenguo Marquis Manor’s Heir Apparent’s Wife for a day, she will go back sooner or later. If you truly want to be with Jiang Xuerou, then focus on your future prospects. Once you rise to a high position of power, changing her identity will be effortless.”
Though Lin Ningkun was still dissatisfied, he knew his mother spoke the truth.
Seeing her son take her words to heart, Madam Zhou took a sip of tea to calm herself and softened her tone.
“Don’t be angry anymore. Let me tell you some good news: recently, I took Jiang Ruanxi’s dowry to find your Second Uncle, who’s helping you build connections. At this critical time, you’d better not cause any trouble. As for Jiang Xuerou, I’ll go ask your Second Sister tomorrow what’s going on.”
Hearing this, Lin Ningkun felt his anger subside a bit.
After leaving the courtyard, he looked toward Jiang Ruanxi’s courtyard, his eyes filled with more hatred.
The next day, after Jiang Ruanxi got up, Hong Ye served her in dressing and mentioned manor matters, “Madam, the Old Madam went to Zhenguo Marquis Manor.”
Jiang Ruanxi was not surprised at all; she just smiled without speaking and instructed her, “Have Shugen go to the manor west of the city and find a man named He Kui.”
“Alright.”
After Hong Ye left, the smile vanished from Jiang Ruanxi’s face, replaced by coldness.
Although Jiang Xuerou had returned to Zhenguo Marquis Manor, as long as Yongyi Marquis Manor remained, she still had a chance to come out.
Naturally, Jiang Ruanxi had to cut off her path out.
**
Jiang Ruanxi had just finished lunch when Shugen brought the man in.
Looking at the tall, thin man dressed in coarse cloth before her, memories of her previous life involuntarily surfaced in her mind.
This man named He Kui appeared frail on the surface, but in reality, he was capable, handling everything for Lin Ningkun behind the scenes.
In her previous life, Lin Ningkun had brought in He Kui to manage everything; during her critical illness, He Kui had run the Lin Family impeccably.
The business was several times better than when she had managed it.
Jiang Ruanxi could cope for now, but it would inevitably be inconvenient to leave the manor for certain matters.
So at this time, she needed someone to help her.
She thought of He Kui, who had helped manage the Lin Family in her previous life.
“Madam, Madam.” Hong Ye called several times before pulling her thoughts back.
Jiang Ruanxi lifted the teacup lid and said indifferently, “You’re He Kui, right?”
Though surprised, He Kui answered truthfully, “Yes, Madam, this servant is indeed He Kui. I wonder what business Madam has in summoning this servant?”
“The manor is harsh and remote; it’s a waste to have talent like yours languishing there.”
He Kui’s eyes flickered, and Jiang Ruanxi said slowly, “I know your mother is seriously ill and you have a young sister. I’ve already brought your mother to the Capital and found her the best doctor.”
